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 ($465 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After utilizing the second transfer, a thought flashed my mind and became a goal that I am planning to fulfill once I get some money. This goal will ease my spending on milk purchasing. If I get some money, I will buy some cows because I have been incurring some costs in buying milk for my children. Once I get these cows they will not only provide milk for the family but also for sale hence serving as an income-generating source.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Initially, getting some food was not a guarantee; we used to spend some days without getting some food because we had no reliable sources of income. As of now, we are thankful because GiveDirectly enabled us and we have access to the basic needs. In my opinion, GiveDirectly is a faultless organization that needs to be embraced by all the communities and also receive a friendly welcome in its area of operation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, I bought four goats for KES 16000.00. I wanted cows but due to the drought which led to pasture scarcity, I could not buy the cows because they are not drought resistant compared to goats. I also paid school fees for my children; both the arrears and the current fee that was required. Thereafter, I completed the construction of my house which I started using the first transfer. Since it was a drought season I kept some amount for the upkeep of the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At around 10am in the morning is when I received a message in my phone. I asked my helper to read and interpret it for me. After getting the full information of what it was all about, I was excited and happiness engulfed me. I just found myself dancing unknowingly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially I was not enjoying my sleep. Every time I wake up in the morning I felt very tire and this was because of the poor shelter. After the transfer I opted to buy a good mattress. Currently I do sleep comfortable to an extent of oversleeping some times. I am very happy for the organization.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After withdrawing the money, I followed my list of things that I had earlier prepared. My desire was to have some livestock at my home thus I bought some goats. Looking at my house, it needed some minor repairs so I bought some iron sheets and some poles an fixed the house which is now in order. I also bought a mattress a mattress because I was using some boxes and sacks to dress my bed. Lastly I bought some food and also kept the remaining amount for the family upkeep.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means building my own house. For over two years I have been borrowing shelter to sleep after my house collapsed. I have a family of nine children and all of them also borrow shelter from other relatives in the compound. It is shameful at my age with all those children and still cannot afford a house for them. However, I am not able to build one because I depend on charcoal burning business which earns me less than 2000 KES a month. I have six children who are in school and need to eat and pay school fees. All the money I get is spent on these basic needs and I remain with nothing to save and build a house. Upon receiving this money, I will be able to build a one bedroom house that will cost 20000KES. I will then use the remaining amount to pay school fees and buy ten goats that I will sell in future when they multiply.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Late afternoon is always my happiest part of my day. I usually leave in morning at 7am for charcoal burning. I spend two hours walking to the forest where I collect logs and prepare them for burning. I spend better part of the morning doing this and come back at noon. When I come back, I cook food and eat with my children. I then have time to rest as we do storytelling. Having this time to interact with my family members gives me joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Persistent drought in our village has been the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. I have been raised up in a family that depends on subsistence farming. This is the main economic activity that over the years I have been depending on to feed and educate my children. However, due to the drought in our village, farming has become difficult. We are forced to cut down trees which survived the dry weather for charcoal burning. This business is not reliable because many people have shifted to it as their main economic activity and there are no more trees for charcoal burning. Consequently, one of my children did not collect her secondary certificate because of a huge debt of 30000 KES. Upon receiving this cash transfer, I will be able to clear the debt in school, and buy goats that survive dry weather as an investment for my children education.
