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 ($473 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The new goal that I didn't had before receiving the transfer is purchasing a welding machine. When I received the transfer I felt great and decided to invest in welding business. This will earn me a daily income to meet other household items including paying the school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well buy giving money to the poor in the community to build better house, buy dairy cows and pay school fees. I do no find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 to pay school fees for my children in various school. I am so happy because my children are now studying well without being sent home like before. I purchased a wedding machine at the cost of 20,000. I am planning to start a welding business soon. I completed the construction process that I started using the previous transfer. The rest of the money I bought solar system for lighting up the house. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was around 10am. I was on my farm digging, then I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I didn't know it was from GiveDirectly. So I check it out to find who might have texted me. I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and stopped whatever I was doing and rushed home to inform my family members. They all celebrated the good news. I went to withdrew the money the same day and pay school fees for my son.
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 have bought a dairy cow. I used to own one but the milk production was low. So most of the times I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. This is because I do not have a continuous source of income. I depend on small scale farming. I plant beans and sweet potato. This is for consumption, I had no surplus to sell to earn an income. I had always wished to buy a dairy cow but it was not possible before I didn't had money. Currently I have a dairy cow and I get enough milk for my family and the extra to earn an income to meet other basic household needs. I am so grateful because I am able to save the money that I could have used to buy milk to meet other additional basic needs. I spent most of my time looking after my cows, just ensuring that the have needs and clean water to drink.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 of the first transfer to pay school fees for my children in secondary school. This enabled them to study well without being sent home. Their performance improved compared to previous terms. I bought a dairy cow at a cost of 36,500 .This has enabled me to cut the daily cost of buying milk which is so expensive. The rest of the money I bought cement to complete the construction that I had started before I received the transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have two children in secondary school who have not been having ample study time due to a lack of fees. As a subsistence farmer relying wholly on natural rains yet we usually experience prolonged periods of drought, the produce that we normally attain is just enough for our consumption, leaving us with small or no surpluses for sale. So, receiving this money means that my children shall enjoy ample study time because I will pay their fees on time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up feeling happy and healthy. This suggests that I shall have sufficient energy and motivation to handle my farming activities. I always wake up early to handle my farming tasks, a practice that would run till late in the afternoon.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship we have faced is the frequent droughts we experience in our area. As a subsistence farmer, I would like to irrigate my farms during the dry seasons. Unfortunately, I have never afforded to acquire the necessary equipment for storing water and irrigating my farms. As such, droughts have been destroying our crops, making it difficult for us to survive, meet our financial and food demands.
