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 ($425 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This year, I'm focusing on farming so that I can get enough maize for both family consumption and commercial consumption. Achieving this means that I will be able to pay school fees for both of my children who are in high school now.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, everything went on well because the whole enrollment process was free and fair. What GiveDirectly does well is giving us unconditional cash transfers so that we can empower ourselves in different ways.Thank you for transforming communities.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Being a single mother of two children without a stable source of income has not been easy for me. Due to prolonged drought, I did not get good harvest last and I was very worried because my eldest child had graduated from primary school and needed to proceed to high school. Being enrolled in the program gave us hope because we were already in despair. I spend all the second transfer to buy school shopping and pay school fees for a whole year. Last year, my child had a very smooth time in school and that made her improve her performance. My family is very thankful to GiveDirectly for we couldn't have achieved this by ourselves.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy when I received the first transfer from GiveDirectly. At that moment, I was home as it was late at night around 11:00 pm when a message alert came in. On checking it up, I was able to recognize that it was from GiveDirectly after confirming the balance of KES 55000 that we were told during enrollment. My children were already asleep in their room and could not wake them up till the next morning when we celebrated together.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the initiation of the construction work that is geared towards the establishment of a maize miller as a source of income. I am glad that this has finally started after a long thought over it that could not have happened without the support from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the poor productivity of the farming activities in our region, diversity in investment is the only way that can keep a household going with minimal financial constraints. On receiving the transfer, I had an idea different from what other villagers had. I needed to construct a business structure in form of a house where I will establish my own business on a piece of land that is adjacent to the main road. Maize millers are few in our village and I had been contemplating buying one that will serve most members of the village who had been walking long distances to find one. Out of the first transfer, I spent KES 38750 on the purchase of iron sheets, trees that I will cut down to timber, nails, and other construction materials. I also bought foodstuff worth KES 3300, clothing for my two children worth KES 5000, and saved the remaining amount in the informal saving group that we started with other like-minded villagers.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a business venture. I used to work as a bar attendant for 2 years. I liked the business since the owner was making a good profit. I then left the job because sometimes I could be deducted some money from my monthly salary to compensate for bills not paid by the customer. For two months I went home without a salary and I decided to quit the job. So when I get this money I would like to start my own bar business as a sole proprietor. In this business, there is more profit than loss. I intend to employ bouncers on the day where customers will be many to assist me on customers who were to escape from paying bills. I intend to spend KES 2500 to pay rent, KES 1000 to obtain a business permit, and KES 60000 as starting capital. This business will generate income for my household and pay for children's education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the little money I earn from my business of selling french fries I try as much as possible to save one thousand Kenyan shillings for merry go round famously known as 'Chama monthly. In this Merry go round we are 35 people where each person contributes KES 1000. Three months ago it was my turn and I was given KES 34000 which I used to purchase 0.1 acres of land. This brought joy and happiness into my life since I now have a big farm to do crop farming.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. After I resigned from my previous job as a waiter I started making and selling french fries. In this business, I earn KES 150 as profit, with this profit I buy half a liter of milk at KES 20, flour at KES 100, and the remaining amount I buy sugar daily thus nothing more to save. I have a saving group of 35 people and I have to sacrifice some amount as my contribution. I feel that I am struggling but with the hope that my turn will come to receive the contribution.
