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 ($526 USD)
access_time over 4 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 it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I would not have started my business of selling clothes. I was not in a position to do this because I do not have any source of income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving out cash to the people in society to improve their standard of living. I do not find anything that was not done well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spend my second transfer to start a new business of selling second-hand clothes. This business gives me some income to meet my daily needs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
For a long time, I have been keeping my neighbor's cow in our field which has been helping us in milk production which we would sometimes sell although a larger portion of it was being taken by the owner of the cow. After receiving the money we decide to purchase that cow so that w may stopped the sharing of milk and use the whole of the produced milk for our own consumption. this to me is the biggest difference in my daily life since it has so far been the greatest source of income now that we are selling all the surplus produce.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment of receiving the money from GiveDirectly, celebrations which was marked by ululations filled the village. together with my children, we were not left behind but joined in to celebrate as we thank god for the great provision.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent the first transfer I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing a cow worth 23000 KEs. This was top in priorities since it has been our wish to cut the expensive cost of buying milk from the neighborhood. I spent the remaining amount on obtaining construction materials for our new house which included nails, 100 timber and also iron sheets. I also went ahead to purchase a battery and a solar lighting system which have been useful so far in aiding the illumination of the study room of my children.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Maintaining my mud house has been a costly affair .This is because of the availability of materials to do this.There is a special type of soil which I buy to maintain the mud walls.One bucket costs me 1 USD.When I receive the transfers,I want to build a two bedroom house made of timber.This will cost me not less than Ksh 30,000(300 USD).I also have a plan of buying a plastic tank(2500 litres) at a cost of Ksh 16,000(160 USD).We have a problem of getting clean water especially during the dry season since we depend on water pans.With the tank I will be able to collect water during the rainy season to serve me when there is shortage of clean water.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Before I go to my farm at 9 am,I do the house chores and feed the cows.I come back from the farm at at noon to prepare lunch.I go back again to the farm at around 4 pm till 5pm.I enjoy the morning hours when I am still strong and energetic to work.This is the happiest part of my day. I work for 5 hours in the scorching sun which makes me tired at the end of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Living in a polygamous family set up as the second wife out of three has been my biggest hardship.This is because my husband offers no support to me when it comes to taking care of the family's needs.This began when he married the third wife in 2010.From then I do everything on my own beginning with taking care of the basic needs as well as education for my four children.I am a subsistence farmer and what I get from my farm is not enough to satisfy all their needs.My first born is in secondary school while the other three are in primary school.
