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 ($431 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?
My goal this year is to focus on educating my children. I believe in education and I know it can change the future of my children. I'm also looking forward to buying more livestock so that I will be selling them once my children joins high school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I would say the transfers have united people in the village because many people were able to start small businesses around. In my opinion, I would say what GiveDirectly does well is uplifting the poor through unconditional financial aid which in turn unites people. I haven't seen an area where you need to improve just keep up with the good work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Being a single mother of four, life has not been a walk in the park raising the children single solely. For the longest time, I thought I would build a bigger house for my children so that we can live comfortably for the single room that we all live in is very small and not a place anyone would wish to live. Due to life challenges and financial constrains, I have never been able to achieve my long life dream. I spend $300 to build a temporary two bedroom house and the balance to buy clothes and food for my family. I am happy that we now have a fair shared space and we are living a better life compered to before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($469 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in my kitchen garden weeding when I suddenly heard my phone ringing notifying me of a new message. I didn't bother to check it since I was determined to finish the work that I was doing before dark. I was surprised later at almost 6 pm when I opened the SMS and I read that I had received KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had earlier promised us. I was filled with much joy and I thanked God for the blessing since I now knew that I was going to be able to fulfill the plans that I had laid down.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a big difference in our daily lives as a family. My children are happy because they have enough food for their consumption. They have also been able to study well at school without being interrupted since I managed to clear the school fees arrears with part of the transfer money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30000 of my recent transfer on buying another cow. I have been rearing one cow and it has always been my wish to buy another so that it can help me in getting more income through the sale of milk. More income would mean me being able to provide for my family all the basic needs comfortably. This has not always been possible since the money that I usually get paid from doing casual jobs is only enough to buy food for them. Other than that, the number of cows that we own will also increase and hence our wealth status too. I also spent KES 5000 on buying a sheep. This sheep is my future investment since I can sell some of the offspring and get money for other important things such as paying school fees for my children. Other than the above, I also bought chairs at KES 3000 and I tilled and planted my land with another KES 3000. With the remaining transfer amount, I spent it on buying food, clothes, and paying school fees for my children. I am thus so much grateful to GiveDirectly for the support. May God bless you.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In our culture, it is taboo for a parent to be sleeping together with teenage boys, but due to lack of money, I have not been able to build a separate house for them. So when I receive this transfer I will spend KES 25,000 to construct that house. This will be my biggest joy since I have been worried about where they were going to sleep after circumcision. The remaining amount I will purchase a dairy cow and use to meet other basic needs for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
One month ago I received my contribution from table banking. The money I got I purchased a sheep whom I am going to use as payment for the family who is going to take care of my son during traditional circumcision. This has brought joy and happiness into my life since I no longer have to worry about it.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is food insecurity. I do casual jobs in the nearby town where I wash people's clothes. My pay however is minimal and this job is not constant also. With the little money of KES 150 that I earn per day, I spend it to purchase food and meet other household needs. Sometimes we are forced to have one meal per day and this is worrying since I have a young child who needs good nutrition for him to grow.
