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
55000 KES ($477 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?
I was able to purchase a parcel of land before but it is not developed yet. Therefore my dream is for me to be able to build a house for my family. At the moment I don't have any savings due to school fees obligations. Though I plan to execute with the aid of the many go round from the self-help groups.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done a tremendous job in elevating poverty in our local communities thus we are grateful for the support. May almighty God continue to bless our donors so that they may continue to reach out to the extremely poor communities. In my opinion, the program should have lasted for more months.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a community health volunteer, at the moment I have only one child who is still schooling. Life has not been easy because I depend on the little stipend for livelihood. Upon the receipt of my second transfer, I prioritised paying school fees of KES 30,000 for my son. I then used KES 20,000 in purchasing a dairy cow for purposes of milk production and also to gain profit from selling milk. Lastly, I used the remaining amount on foodstuffs. I was unable to accomplish this before due to financial constraints. I am so grateful for the support that brought so much happiness to my life.
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 at home alone that morning when I saw my neighbor's excited as they head to the nearest market. On making inquiries, I realized that everyone in the village had received the first transfer. I was very excited as well and thanked God as I had great expectations after I was enrolled in the program. Coincidentally, my brother who had moved out of the village some years back had come home and was auctioning his piece of land that was just separated by a fence with mine. I could not let that go but had to commit the whole of my first transfer to the piece.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the new ownership of a piece of land that I bought after receiving the first transfer. The whole piece looks big at the moment and I am planning to fence around it as I look forward to putting it in use once I have made a clear decision whether to farm on it or use it as a grazing field.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the passing on of my wife some years ago, I had been living with my son after all my daughters whom we initially lived together were married. It was unfortunate that one of my daughters had been fighting a chronic illness that made me bring her back home. She is currently receiving treatment and am glad that she has been getting better and better. On receiving the first transfer, I had a talk with my son whom we both agreed on spending the whole sum on paying for a piece of land that my elder brother was selling. We had been living in a small piece of land and buying an additional piece will provide a better space for my son and daughter to construct their own houses in the future. The piece was going for KES 65000 and the transfer I received added to the savings I had was enough to pay for the whole piece that was on sale. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the great support that has enabled us to acquire a new property that we never had before.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
As a way of livelihood, I engage in subsistence farming to meet my household needs. I currently serve as a community health volunteer getting engagements from different nongovernmental organizations working in my community. I love this job since besides helping my community with health-related issues, I earn an income that has helped me support my family mainly my children's education. I am lucky to have built a semi-permanent, spacious house with the support of my elder children but I was not able to complete it. Receiving this money means realizing my current dream. I have wished for quite some time to cement the floor of my house but the overwhelming household needs have not given me a chance. I am planning to spend KES 60000 to buy cement, sand and to pay for labor to help me complete my house. I am certain, I will have a decent home and I will end the struggle of smearing every weekend to avoid the dust. This will assure good health and a nice home to take pride in.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is the happiness of each parent seeing his/her children living in better standards. I lost my wife twenty-two years ago and taking care of my children all alone has not been easy. I struggle to educate them and I thank God I made it. It is just a month ago when my son who graduated as a primary school teacher got a confirmation of a permanent job with the Teachers Service Commission. This has been my greatest joy since my prayers have been answered through him. I am certain with his salary he will uplift our living standards.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have enjoyed good health since my childhood. This has been a blessing I have lived to thank God for. This gave me ample time to support my family and I am currently left with my last born who is joining university to educate. In the past few months, I have frequently visited health centers with some health complications. This is my current biggest challenge since I have been advised to avoid some food that I would have enjoyed the most at my old age besides the pain I persevere.
