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 ($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 had set a side a small place in my sitting room as my kitchen. Due to this, it was always smoky and uncomfortable for my children to study especially during the evenings when I am making dinner. My second transfer came in handy as it enabled me to build a spacious kitchen outside the main house. Due to this, my children nowadays study without any disturbances and hindrance from the smoke. 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 by uplifting people through cash transfer 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 spent I bought a water tank with a capacity of 2300 litres at KES 20000. I decided on this so that I can be using it to harvest rain water for domestic use during the dry season. Also, I bought three sets of seats worth KES 17000. I am now glad since my visitors will always have a place to sit in comfortably whenever they visit my house. Using the remaining amount, I bought some decent clothes and food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was at 1.38pm when we were taking lunch and my phone beeped on the table and on checking the message, it was the GiveDirectly transfers. That was the end of lunch time for me as I went to collect the transfer immediately. My children were so excited as well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I own a cow right now which I had planned to buy after the harvest season. When I harvest my maize, I will buy another cow. I also built another house since the one I had was too squeezed and now I can rearrange my house and it looks more spacious.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money on buying a heifer and built myself a house. I also bought my children clothes and bought a bag of maize for use as food.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am planning to spend shillings 20000 of my transfer to build a new house so as to stay close to my old and ailing mother in- law who has not been feeling well for a long time and needs close attention.The remaining amount will help me sort out other household needs like food,clothing's and beddings.In my family we skip meals and my children have a habit of going to eat at my neighbours homes that has bring a lot of shame to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I love to work in my small garden. In there I have grown vegetables to sustain my family with food and little surplus for sale during raining season. Working in my garden every morning gives me so much joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is a change of climate. For more than 5 years, we have been unable to harvest sufficient maize, yet we entirely depend on to sustain our family. This made me focus on growing vegetables for sales which is still a challenge since the land under cultivation is less than 0.25 of an acre.
