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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I used to depend on charcoal vending which did not earn me enough income to education my children. I am now rearing livestock in my compound which is a great improvement for my family. I am assured my children will be able to learn without struggling using the income from my new career. Also, we own 3 new decent shelters for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly has done well in assisting my household. I see a lot of improvement in my life. I now own decent house and livestock like others in the village. The program operation was done well and household that qualified according to the Givedirectly criteria was enrolled in the program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my second transfer to construct a better and spacious house for my family. The one I had earlier was small, old and grass-thatched which requires constant roof maintenance which is relatively expensive. I also purchased one cow and 3 goats so that I may have future investments for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the transfer message early in the morning as I was going to my farm. It was informing me that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and thankful to them for their financial help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now building a decent and iron roofed house. I was previously sheltering in a grass thatched hut. I had no plans of upgrading to a better house because of my lowly financial status. I purchased enough building materials such as iron sheets, building poles and nails for the construction of the new house. Had I not received this transfer, I would have stayed in the grass thatched hut for a long time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying two heifers that I am currently keeping in my homestead. To me these are assets that I have always desired to own. I am expecting them to reproduce and increase in number. I can rely on them in case of a financial need. In addition to the livestock, I also bought 19 pieces of iron sheets and building poles to construct a new house. My previous house was a hut and grass thatched. I am happy because very soon I will be moving into my new iron roofed house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in abject poverty as a result of lacking a stable source of income. This is because I do not have any formal education to enable me secure a job. My biggest ambition is to educate my children because I don't want them to end up suffering like me. Since education is a process, I will need stable financial resources to achieve my goal. Receiving this money therefore means, reviving my goat rearing project for the stated purpose. I once had this project but I sold all of them to educate my 3 older children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I earn some cash. This gives me the strength to face my family as a father. Nothing frustrates more than going back home empty handed to an equally devastated family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine preparing 8 acres of land with hope of harvesting enough food, only to be disappointed by poor rainfall patterns! This has been the norm every year which has led to food insecurity being my biggest hardship. It is this situation that forces me to engage in all labour intensive activities to feed my family of 8. I even look older than my age because of the very heavy economic activities I engage in.
