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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($509 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before receiving my transfer, I had plans to sell one of my dairy cows in order to use the money to pay school fees for my children. This is because I had been given a one week notice and failure to comply, my children would be sent back home. Also, I was able to buy eight goats which have already increased in number to twelve and they're also continuing to reproduce. Having all these goats and being able to pay school fees for my children instead of selling one of my dairy cows makes my life different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in so many ways. First, they do well by sending huge amount of money directly to people and making their cash unconditional. Also, they do well by not only helping so many people at a go but also by going house to house searching for recipients. I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my second transfer, I spent KES 40000 to pay school fees for my children. I decided on this so that they would not be sent back home. This is because I had already been given a one week notice that they would be sent back home if I did not clear their fee arrears. Using the remaining amount, I bought some plastic seats and clothes for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the transfers around six in the morning while still asleep. I was very happy for the early morning blessing and immediately relayed the good news to my wife and she too was very excited. I kept the money until the day I found the Dorper sheep breed which we had planned to buy with family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is purchase of eight female dorper sheep breed which I had initially planned for with my wife. I am happy because before the end of next year the sheep will have given birth hence more income for my family and my future financially security is assurred. When visitors and customers enter my compound they can see a huge difference in my sheep fold. The sheep numbers have increased and the sheep fold is fenced neatly which is contrary to before when I had no fence hence my sheep would stray all over the farm and their numbers were fewer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer on eight dorper sheep breeds because they give birth twice a year, multiply fast and it will become an income source for my family.They are also easily manageable and very marketable. I also bought a 10 metre chain link fence for fencing my sheep yard in order to prevent them from straying away. The rest was spent on sugar, lunch and fare.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my dream project of rearing a flock of black-headed sheep will materialize. Caring, feeding and educating my five children as a single parent has a been a challenge. My first wife passed away in 2004 leaving me with every responsibility. Hence, I have never managed to start the project because the little profit I attain from my business is hardly enough to sustain us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am sharing a meal with my jovial family. This makes me feel happy as a responsible and caring father and husband.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is losing a wife and daughter in the same year, 2004. The incidents left me feeling hopeless and helpless because I spend virtually every resource I had in treating them in vain. Fortunately, I feel somehow healed and recovered from the trauma after marrying my second wife in the year 2019.
