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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($428 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I hope to raise more cash to start a grocery business just within my village. Due to my tedious job and low wages, I have not been able to provide for my family. Therefore, I trust that once I get the capital, this business will be my main source of income and will help me provide for all of my family's basic needs without struggling since it's a lucrative business according to my findings.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
According to me, GiveDirectly does well by offering me financial help, which has changed my life. I had the privilege of choosing what works better for me and my family as a whole. This has enabled me to own assets and new household items that would have taken me years to buy. Therefore, I do not see anything that they should change as they move to the next village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer purchasing a modern wooden bed and a mattress for a total of $145. Previously, I used to sleep in the traditional bed, which was small and caused me lots of pain. My two children could always complain of back pain and fatigue every morning, which has even been affecting their performance in school. Therefore, I feel there is a great deal of relief since we have been sleeping comfortably and soundly like babies. To add to that, I bought a solar panel for $50. This has been helping my children, especially at night when doing their school assignments, and charging my phone and those of my neighbors at a fraction of the cost. Also, I feel more secure since previously my property would get stolen because of the darkness. Later on, I bought new clothes and shoes for my children, who were going to the Christmas celebrations. With the remaining amount of money, I have been buying food and paying some of my bills.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was overjoyed when I first received a message from GiveDirectly confirming the receipt of the first transfer. I received a message notification around 4:00 p.m., and I was on my way to the river to get water at the time. When I saw the exact amount that I was promised during registration, I knew it had to be from GiveDirectly. When I returned home, I informed my father, who had received his transfer a few minutes earlier, and he was also able to confirm the message. I was unable to withdraw the money right away and had to wait two days before collecting the entire transfer from a nearby shopping center.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The prospect of soon relocating to a new home with a better roof, which will alleviate the frustrations I have been experiencing with my two children during rainy seasons, has made the most significant difference in my daily life. This will also provide an opportunity to fully utilize the old structure as a kitchen in order to create more space in the new house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was living in a small hut with a leaky roof that let water in during the rainy season. I was relieved to receive the first transfer because I had plans to build a larger new house with a better roof. As a result, I purchased 19 iron sheets, 18 of which cost $9.5 each and the 19th, which I used to build a door, cost $7. I also purchased other building materials such as building poles for the walls, roof frames, and nails for a total of $208. I later paid the $80 labor charges. I'm currently finishing up the walls and hope to be able to move in soon. I also paid my child's primary school fees of $10 and bought him and my daughter each a pair of shoes worth $5. In addition, my daughter was sick and needed $5 worth of medication. Even though she is not completely well, I am glad the medication has helped. I later spent some of the remaining funds on food worth $50 and saved a small amount while waiting for the second transfer, which I believe will help me buy new bedding and goats.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I was married in Garashi village in Magarini sub-county but I had misunderstandings with my husband and the living conditions were extra pathetic, I could go three days without food and I opted to come to my maternal home and start my own life.
Receiving this money means using 30,000 KES to build a two-room house as currently, I am using my elder brother's grass-thatched single room as he is living in Kilifi town.
I will use the remaining amount of transfers to admit my firstborn child to start school at Mgamboni primary school and expound my business as well.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My elder sister visited me when I gave birth to my secondborn. She bought me some presents for the child and I felt happy, loved and cared for.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My house is leaking when it rains and my business is also not profitable as most of the ingredients are hiking every day. The price of wheat flour and cooking oil is too high making the profit margin too small, on a good day I can make a profit of 150 KES which is never enough to cater for the expenses of a family of three people.