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
53150 KES ($492 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer in that if it was not for the money I would still be languishing in poverty. Previously it was a real challenge to afford a whole day's meal. I am glad I am currently earning daily income from the motorcycle business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly does well and I really appreciate the work done by them. Giving people cash enabled them to make financial decisions on their own that have improved their lives. On the hand, they do not have any areas of improvement.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I completed constructing my house that I started construcring with the first transfer. Previously I had a smaller house which was almost falling down. I feared it could fall on us but since we could not afford another house we had stay in it. I am glad through the Give Directly transfers, I was able to construct a brick house. I now have a decent house.
Aportin of the money I spent on a cow for rearing. I am hopeful that after it has given birth I will not only have additional cows but also I will benefit from milk .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the house very early in the morning when I heard a message come into my phone. I checked the message with my husband and we were both very happy to see that it was the Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that we can now complete building the house that we had started to build; we will also now have a bigger and more spacious house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to complete building a house that we had started building three months ago. The current house that we live in is small for my family of three children together with their father. My husband and I had started building the house but it stalled as we did not have the finances to complete the house. I was very happy when I received the transfers as I knew that we would now finish building the house and own a bigger and more spacious house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My biggest desire has been to complete the construction of my house which I have already started but it halted due to insufficient finance. I am planning to spend $300 to purchase 15 bags of cement at $6 each, 3 windows and the remaining amount for labor charges. In addition, I will invest the remaining amount of my first transfer on my 2 sisters' educational needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Waking up healthy with my family gives my hope despite the challenges we are facing in life. It also at this time that my husband can receive a call for his temporary work when he is fortunate, seeing him going to work make me happy because it is through that we can get some income for our upkeep.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Failure to fulfil my dream of completing the construction of my house due to the financial constraint has been my biggest hardship. My house is very small and is about to collapse this has lowered myself esteem as I am constantly mocked by neighbors due to the bad status of my house. I always pray to God that we do not experience strong winds that could blow off the roof.
