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 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 from how it would have been had I never received my transfers because I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow. Before Give Directly came for enrolment, I had never thought I would for one day own a cow. This is because the money I usually get from doing casual work was not always enough for us to buy all our basic needs and even pay school fees for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well by enrolling everyone in the village without considering someone's background.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a good amount from my second transfers to buy a dairy cow. Buying milk has been my routine and it is always costly. I am now glad since I no longer buy them like before. Also, I spent some amount to complete building a house for my family. I bought all the necessary materials that were needed and paid a mason. I used the remaining amount to buy food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built two better houses. We used to live in a small house with my children. This was so inconveniencing because the house could not host all of us comfortably. I run a small grocery and the amount of money that I earn through this small business is so small and cannot gather all the basic needs for the family including saving some amount to build a house. During the rainy season, it was so challenging because the house could leak from the inside. I could shy away to welcome visitors into my house because I did not have a space to host them. Currently, I have built a better and spacious house and we live so comfortably with my children without any fear of being rained on. I no longer shy off to host visitors like before. I am so much grateful because GiveDirectly has changed my standard of living to be better.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when I received my money I felt so happy because I have never receive such amount of money before. I remember it was very early the morning when I heard a message from my phone. When I read the message confirming that I have received a sum of Ksh 55000 I felt so happy because I knew I will be in a position to build a better house for my family.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to built better and spacious houses. we used to live in a mall house with my family which was so small and leaking from the inside and could not host all of us comfortably, this prompted me to build a better house as the first priority and the rest of the money I used it to buy food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I bought this piece of land six years ago using a little money I had saved from selling vegetables.After buying,I was left with very little money and only managed to build a very small house.Since then I have wanted to build a better home for my children but have not had the ability.Receiving this money will enable me build a better house as well as settle other basic requirements for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Every day,I go around my village looking for vegetables to sell.By afternoon,I have already settled at the nearby center to sell chopped vegetables.I am not always guaranteed that I will get customers-there are good days and bad days.On a good day,I make enough money to go back home in the evening with foodstuff for my family.On such days,I am happy because I know that my young children will have food to eat.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is raising my four children all alone.Providing for a family of five single handedly is a very huge task especially because my only means of income is selling vegetables at a nearby market.My eldest child is in high school and each school term I am required to raise Kes 5000 for school fees.The other children also need food and clothing and all these are dependent on my small income business.Sometimes am forced to let my child stay home for a while as I look for money and his study time is wasted hence affecting perfomance.
