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 ($510 USD)
access_time almost 3 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 than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a Water tank. I used to walk for a long distance to collect clean water for drinking and also for domestic use. This was taking much of my time which I could have used to do other chores at home. I am so grateful now because I have bought a water tank. I no longer walk for that long distance like before. I have devoted much of my time to my dairy farming and poultry keeping project. This has motivated me to work harder and improve on horticulture farming because I have water for watering during the dry season. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard and given us hope to continue achieving our dreams.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on School fees for my children in various Secondary schools. I also started poultry keeping project to enable me earn an income through selling the eggs. The rest of the money I bought food, clothes and a water tank.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My family and I were so excited when we received the message notification indicating that we had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. We felt a ray of hope in us, the projects that we had been planning to accomplish for a while were now going to be accomplished. I cannot even describe the amount of happiness that we felt when we saw that message. We thank GiveDirectly for coming up with this program of helping people, may God bless you so much.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
With the new cowshed that we plan to build, the cows will no longer be going to other peoples’ farms and we will be able to get manure that is good for farming. The cows will be able to get good care as they will be fed well. With this good management, the milk yield will go up and we will be able to get enough milk for sale. The money from milk sales will enable us to do other things. I have also been able to buy a few bags of maize and hence my family will have something to eat and hence I will not be having any worries for some time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The money from GiveDirectly has helped me in buying maize for my family consumption. Our stock of maize had depleted and my family no longer had food to eat. With these few bags of maize, we will have something to eat and hence I will not be having any worries for some time. I was also able to buy some clothes for my children. I plan to use the rest of the money to build a cowshed where our cows can be well fed and taken care of. With this good care and management, the milk yield will increase, and hence we will be able to sell some and get money to do other things. The new cow shed will prevent the cows from going to other peoples’ farms and we will be able to get manure that is good for farming.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I practice dairy farming and I currently own 3 Ayrshire dairy cattle that generates me an income of $3 daily from selling 10 litres of milk. This has empowered me financially and has enabled me to support my spouse in educating our four children, two in secondary school, and two in primary school. I therefore intend to use $700 of my funds to add two more dairy cattle costing $350 each. I will then spend the remaining $30 to initiate poultry keeping, a project that I have always wished to engage in since the income from selling the poultry products such as eggs, and mature chicken will supplement my income from dairy farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My daily routine encompasses getting sufficient feeds such as nappier grass and sugarcane for my 3 cattle in the morning after milking them. I then head to the river 4 km away with my donkeys to fetch water for domestic use. I usually sell milk in the afternoon to my clients who usually come for them at this time. Evening is usually the happiest part of my day and also a resting time for me after counting success from my earlier activities
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Dairy farming has always been my passion. I engage in this activity wholeheartedly but even though I own 3 cattle that produce 10 liters of milk daily, the current milk selling price of 30 shillings per litter is so discouraging hence I do not rip sufficient profit from my project. I end up spending all the money on supporting my family needs, more so food and paying school fees for my four children hence building up savings to initiate other projects like poultry farming that I have always yearned to engage in remains a dream, which is the biggest hardship I face.
