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
55000 KES ($436 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
By the end of this year, I want to build a big, coral made stone house for my family. The one we have right now is small and it is made of wood. The transfers we received from GiveDirectly, we made sure we expanded all our business so that will make huge profit to cover all our family's needs and meet all our expenses.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The unconditional transfer that we have received from GiveDirectly has really helped a lot of people in my village to meet all their basic needs accordingly. In my opinion, GiveDirectly only does good and there is nothing wrong GiveDirectly does.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband is a teacher and I currently sell things in a small kiosk. We really work hard with my husband to provide for our four children a better life they deserve. We had desired to build a hardware store but it was difficult for us. All the cement we bought, we kept it in our little kiosk together with the food stuff which seemed so unhealthy. The moment I received my transfers, we built a hardware using $300 so that we would keep our cement where it belonged. We used $200 to buy stock for our little kiosks. We believe that the more things we sell, the more profit we make. The remaining amount was $50 that I spent it to run my household.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was almost 6 pm and I was at my mobile money shop busy serving the customers when suddenly my phone rang notifying me of a new message. I had heard from the people who were coming to the shop to withdraw their money saying that the transfers had been sent. So when I heard the message alert on my phone, I was filled with mixed emotions and I wondered if that was what I had been eagerly waiting for. I decided to satisfy my curiosity and I opened the SMS. I was so excited when I found out that I had also received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly just as they had promised. I felt like jumping up with joy. I immediately showed my husband who was with me at the shop the SMS and he was so happy too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into our lives is that the business has improved with having bought the solar battery and the lamps. We no longer rely on electricity a lot since, with the solar system, we can charge phones with it. We have also been able to prepare the feeds for the cows faster than before and hence the cows are now feeding well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent KES 20000 of the recent transfer on buying a solar battery and the lamps. We bought the battery and the lamps for the shop. We decided to do so because the electricity is not reliable and most of the time it usually goes off hence affecting our business. We also spent another KES 30000 on buying a chaff cutter. We want to start practicing zero grazing. The chaff cutter that we had was inefficient since it used to break down every time. As a result, you end up using a lot of time preparing feeds for the cows and the cows do not get to feed well. We were not able to do the above before because we did not have the money. We have a shop and a mobile money business that we depend on to make a living. My husband is also employed as a teacher. The money that we make most of it usually goes to the purchase of food and paying school fees for our four children. With the remaining amount of money, we used it in buying clothes for the children. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for the support.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I began doing zero-grazing one year ago and has its share of challenges since it requires enough feeds and water. My major challenge is getting clean water for the animals since I rely on a nearby small dam that dries when the area is dry. Receiving this money will be a relief to me because it will enable me to buy a water pump, pipes, and a storage tank and store the water pumped from the dam. This will come in handy when our area dries.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For the last six months, our area has received constant rainfall that has enabled us to have constant water stored in the dam. This is a relief since, for the past years, the situation has not been like this. This has brought me happiness because my dairy cows have not lacked water.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Getting a water pump is expensive since the minimum price for one is KES 25000 and I do not have the money now. I draw water for my animals from the dam using a hand cart that I pay for the water to be delivered, which is costly. Financial challenge is, therefore, my major challenge.
