We check in with people at each stage of the cash transfer process to see how things are going. Take a look at some of their stories as they appear here in real-time.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The new goal that I did not have before receiving the transfer is building a poultry house. I had always wished to start a poultry keeping project but I did not had the money to purchase the building materials. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has enabled me to fulfilled my dream. I hope to buy hens soon and start off.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The enrollment was done well as well as the registration process and most of the people received the transfer in our village. This is what GiveDirectly does well. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 52,000 to purchased building materials and build a spacious and better kitchen house. Part of this material I used it to build a poultry house. I used to cook in a small kitchen house which we could squeeze ourselves in, the house was so small and there was no space to store some of the kitchen equipment.This was so demoralizing and stressful. I had always wished to own a spacious one but I did not had the money to buy the building materials. I build a poultry house and this has given me hope to start my dream project of poultry keeping. This will earn me some income through the sales of eggs. Currently the house is done yet to buy the hens. The rest of the money I bought food and other household items. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was on my way home from the hospital when I saw a Mpesa notification showing that I had received money from GIveDirectly since I was on transit I kept my cool and decided not to proceed with the journey, in that I was going home to look for money but God had eventually answered my prayer. I was relieved that at least I had the funds to move up and down.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Losing a child is the most difficult pain to bear with, it was so immense because my son was my sole breadwinner, I am grateful for the transfer that lifted lots of loads, I don't have any tangible thing to show for, but I am grateful that I used the money in giving my son a befitting send-off, I am hopeful that I will be able to build a house with my second transfer just the way I had planned earlier.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer was timely, it came at a point when my son was admitted at Aghan khan hospital Nairobi, I had no cash left to move up and down, unfortunately, my son passed on, it was the worst moment in our lives, this is because he is my eldest son and our breadwinner, therefore, I used KES 55,000 in the burial expenses and transportation from Nairobi to Home, all in all, I am grateful.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will start an alternative source of income through poultry keeping. I will build a new house and start chicken keeping. Ever since the time I stopped the business, running a small food joint due to my old age, I resorted to doing music but to no avail. It does not pay. I intend to spend about KES 20,000 on try keeping, by constructing a small house and buying about 30 birds. I will then spend the remaining amount on home improvement by putting up a decent house made of timber and demolishing the mud house that I currently live in.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is always in the evening. This is because I work the entire day on my farm to look after a cow and the food crops. I sometimes go out to perform my music at different functions. Joy only comes in the evening, after winning the daily bread. The rest of the day is all about what I can do to put food on the table. Thus, the evening is the happiest part.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I currently face is food insecurity. When my children grew up and I grew old and tired, I stopped working in a food joint that I used to run. I, therefore, started waiting on the children to provide food and fell back on my music career which has not picked up. Relying on my children who are not consistent and a struggling music career leaves me exposed to hunger when money does not come on time. I am always worried about going hungry every coming day as both these sources are unreliable.
