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 ($525 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 because I am now self-employed where I work on my own farms without waiting to get the odd jobs which pay peanuts at the end of each day. I work on my farms where I have planted a lot of cash crops that keep generating some income that makes me financially independent.
I also built a new house and moved away from the small structure that was in such a dilapidated state. Three months before GD gave us the transfers, my entire rooftop was carried away by a heavy wind. I, however, managed to trace where the roof had been carried to and I brought it back re-constructed it but the problem is that it kept on leaking excessively.
Finally, I can say that I paid dowry which is a customary right that gave me the official permission to live with my spouse as a husband and wife.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I think that Give Directly has really changed peoples lives especially those who had a vision but lacked the financial capital to make a step towards achieving their visions. On the flipside though, I do not think there was anything negative regarding the operations of the organizations.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfers on buying food for the family which ensured that people never went hungry on any particular day. I also bought a television set at approximately 9000 KES. On top of that, I also bought a cow at a cost of approximately 17000 KES but unfortunately, the cow died mysteriously two months later.
I also bought a solar powered panel at a hire purchase price where I made a one year deposit of approximately 12000 KES. Finally, I cultivated my sugarcane and rice plantations on a one-acre farm which had just been lying fallow for a long time because I did not have the financial capacity to get into this magnitude of farming.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I now have the cows that I never had before. Moreover, I now get food quite easily by using the cash transfers to buy food for the family as opposed to how I used to work so hard in the past.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so excited when I received the cash from the organization.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I used the money to buy cows that I will be using to plough my land going into the future.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money brings happiness to my family. I would like to spend the transfer on construction of a better house that is spacious. My current house is profusely leaking and is in a bad shape.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I get paid for the casual labor that I offer and buy food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am facing in life is extreme poverty. I depend on casual labor services that offer which is tedious and unreliable. This makes me feel unhappy as I am unable to provide for my family's basic needs like food and clothes.
