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?
My life is different than how it would have been have I never received my transfer because I am now happier and live a comfortable life with my family after constructing a spacious house. I also have a dairy cow that will provide a steady supply of milk once it reproduces. I will no longer purchase milk every day for my children which reduces the burden of feeding my family. In addition, I will be able to sell the offspring to educate my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in assisting the needy households in my village. Through this transfer, there is a lot of changes in my village since most households have used the cash transfer appropriately to improve their standard of life. I do not see anything wrong that Givedirectly does.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my second transfer on purchasing one dairy cow for $230, this is my future investment for my family it will be able to assist me whenever I face any financial crisis in my life. Once it reproduces I will be able to sell the offspring. I also educate my 3 siblings who are still in primary school by paying their school fees. Furthermore, I send $100 to complete the construction of my house by purchasing nails and paying labour costs. The remaining amount assisted in purchasing clothes for everyone in my family and bought enough 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?
I received the message in my phone in the afternoon. This was an opportunity to upgrade my living standard and I was happy for the financial support since through this money, I would be able to build a new house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been living in a grass thatched house for years with no hopes of upgrading to a better house. I had even began to purchase some iron sheets with my little savings but I could not achieve this. The little income from the menial jobs was not enough to build since most of it went to my family's basic needs. However, when I received the transfer, I bought the remaining materials and also paid for the labour cost. I will soon be sheltering in a spacious and iron roofed house, which makes it to be the biggest difference in my daily life. I thank GiveDirectly for helping me achieve this dream.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on constructing a new house. I was previously staying in a grass thatched house. I was planning to upgrade to a better one but since I lacked the financial resources, I was not able to buy the necessary materials. I am happy that GiveDirectly has enabled me to achieve this. I purchased iron sheets and building poles to facilitate this. I also paid the mason for his job. I spent the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs for my family and bought new school uniforms for my children who were resuming their studies.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I primarily depend on subsistence farming to support my family. We receive low rainfalls that cause low yields in our farming thus I hardly get enough to even feed my family. I have lived under a single-roomed house since I got married with hopes to build a bigger but my hopes and plans are always destroyed by little resources. Receiving this money to me means a new family look and comfort. I am planning to build a bigger and decent house for my family. This will be my happiness to see my family shelter under a good and more conducive house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I depend on both subsistence farming and casual jobs to meet my household daily needs. The happiest part of my day is in the morning, I feel good waking up with good health ready to take up another chance of a new day to go look for my daily chores either within my farm or casual jobs around.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As the head of an household with a young family to look after, my biggest plan is to always put food on my family's table. The biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life is when we were affected with long drought. We lost our livestock grazing lands and the few vegetables we had. It was the hardest time ever faced looking at my hungry family wakes up every morning and retire to bed in the evening. I felt so depressed and devastated of the situation but I had no efforts to change it.
