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 ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I work as a tractor driver and through this job I can raise money for buying neccesities for my family. Since I have achieved my big goal, I intend to spend part of my earnings on paying school fees since that is the biggest responsibility at the moment.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly help our community to improve farming through financial support. Since most of us are farmers, we acquired livestock and farm inputs which we couldn't afford. The idea of cash transfers was the best idea for such an organization.
There is nothing which wasn't done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my second transfers, I prioritize on buying a dairy cow so as to make them two. I needed to add more cows so that I can increase milk production and generate more income from livestock keeping. The remaining amount, I spent KES 10000 on paying school fees for my children and the remaining amount of KES 13000, I spent on buying myself and my family members some few clothes each.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 9:45 am and I was driving the tractor heading to work together with my workmates when suddenly I heard my phone ringing hence notifying me of a new message. I decided to check it and I could not believe my eyes when I saw that I had received the KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had promised us. I was so happy and I thanked God for the blessing. Soon enough, one of my neighbors at home called me excited asking if I had received the transfer. With lots of happiness, I confirmed to him that indeed I had received it too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a very big difference in my life and that of my family. I am happy because I was able to buy a cow that I didn't have. The cow is about to calve and hence I will no longer incur the cost of buying milk. I will also be able to finally fulfill my dream of building another house for my family. We will thus be able to have enough space for all of us and a conducive place to sleep free from the kitchen smoke.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25000 of my recent transfer on buying trees and sawing them for timber. I bought the trees because I want to build another iron-roofed house. I have only one grass-thatched house and it has always been my wish to build another house so that the one that we are living in becomes a kitchen. I was not able to fulfill this wish because I didn't have money. I have been trying to save some of the money that I make so that I can build another house but it has been quite hard because I have to meet other needs of my family. I am casually employed as a driver for a tractor for transport hire. Other than that, I also spent another KES 20000 on buying a cow. I bought the cow because I didn't have one and hence I have been incurring the cost of buying milk daily for our consumption. With the remaining transfer amount, I used it on buying clothes for the children and food. I am thus so much grateful to GiveDirectly for their support.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been living in a grass-thatched hut that I built 6 years ago and it is now somewhat leaking when it rains. For the past 2 years, I have been yearning to build a 2 roomed iron-roofed house but finances could not allow me. Although I secured a job as a tractor driver at Chebunyo, the KES 400 I earn daily only caters for food for the household. With Givedirectly, my hope will be renewed as I will have a comfortable house for myself as well as reunite with my family. I plan to utilize KES 40000 to build a house and further use the rest of the transfers to pay the bride price to have my wife back. I will be glad that my family will reunite and we will live happily thereafter.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Even though I separated from my wife because of financial instability, I am glad that I never went into depression. Immediately she left, I secured a job as a tractor driver that I have been practising to date. I am excited that with this job, I can put food on the table and have a surplus for my upkeep hence shun away from stress.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I got married in March 2016 with the hope of having a stable family. Unfortunately, this was not the case for being poverty-stricken, I could not manage to pay the bride price as well as sustain my family. It hurts me that her parents came for her leaving me in solitude. Life lost its meaning because I saw myself as not being able to raise a family like my peers, hence a failure.
