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 over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before receiving the transfer, I used to live in a grass thatched house and it was always leaking during the rainy season. Also, my old clothing's used to be my beddings and it was always uncomfortable sleeping on them. With my first transfer, I was able to build a more spacious iron-roofed house and also bought new beddings. Due to this, I no longer experience back ache and I always have a sound sleep as I also do not sleep worrying that I might get rained on. All this would not have been possible had I not received the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in public relations as they're all polite and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I bought a dairy cow worth KES 20,000. I settled on this so that when it reproduces, I will be able to earn some income through the sale of surplus. Also, I spent around KES 15000 on three sacks of maize and other household necessities. Using the remaining amount, I paid school fees for my children and bought some clothes for family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy with cultivation in my farm when I had an incoming message at around noon that day. I went ahead to check and to my surprise it was a Mpesa message that I had received money from GiveDirectlty. I felt so happy and pictured how I was going to transform my old grass thatched house to a new one and forget about the misery of being rained on inside a house. I was so thankful that moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am a widower struggling to rebuild my broken heart at the same time maximize the little resources I have to take care of my family. I was left needy after spending much of my resources on my wife medication that later on succumbed to heart disease and since then I have lived with my children under one old grass thatched house I had build during my early time in marriage. The house was getting older and older and started cracking along the walls as grass peel off thus it was uncomfortable living in but the scarce resources never gave us a chance to transform this. The biggest difference in my daily life is the big iron roofed house that I have built using the cash transfers. I feel so great to have it now I can again smile and let my children have a better home and put down the misery we have been through. Thank you GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been sheltering a small grass thatched house that could not comfortably accommodate my family. I was in need to construct a spacious house but due to scarce resource in our family, I wasn't able. When I received this amount of money, I used KES30000 to build a iron roofed house. I am happy that we currently comfortably reside in our decent home. In addition, I spent KES10000 on my family clothing ranging from my children school uniforms, bedding s and other casual clothes. I did not have enough foodstuffs in my household thus I spent the remaining amount on and kept some for our daily basic needs.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a lot to my family because I know we will fulfill our desire of building a semi-permanent house. Living in a grassed-roofed house that is leaking is so annoying, more so whenever you have visitors. Also, it acts as both kitchen and bedroom hence there no privacy for my grown-up children whenever they need to change their clothes. I will use this transfer to purchase building materials and the remaining I will buy a dairy cow. Having this house will give my children enough specious, their privacy and humble time when they are studying.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is usually in the evening when I come home atleast having food on the table for my family. It gives me joy as a parent as I have not failed in my responsibilities of providing basic needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life is the lack of a stable income. My source of income was plucking tea in the nearby tea estate, every month I could get around 500 shillings. This was so little that it could not even sustain my family's basic needs. Raising a family of nine has not been easy on my side, mostly my children were at home due to school fees. This has made me guilty as a parent because I have failed in my responsibilities.
