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 ($464 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After receiving my first and second transfers, I managed to achieve all the plans that I had. I now have a goal of starting a printing business which will assist me in generating income. The sheep that I bought with the second transfer is one of the projects that will assist me in starting up the business. Once they multiply,I will sell and save towards the business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well by enrolling me into this project and all households in my village. It allowed me to achieve my college dream. I have no complaints since all the processes were followed to the latter.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my second transfer, I prioritized clearing my college fee arrears which had amounted to Kshs.30,000.Am so grateful that I now have my certificate and am can start looking for employment. I also bought four sheep at Kshs.16,000.I invested in sheep since they easily multiply and I can sell them to earn income and also cater for other emergencies. With the remaining amount, I used to purchase clothes for myself.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a busy day for me and I had no time to answer most of the calls or even read the incoming messages. As I was retiring to bed, I decided to read all the messages that I had received that day and my heart was filled with joy on seeing the Mpesa message. I immediately informed my spouse and children who became so happy and my wife made me promise that I would cash out part of the money the following day so that we would be able to acquire beddings for ourselves.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I studied Information technology in college and I had no proof of this two months ago because I had not been given my college certificate since I was still owing the school a sum of KES 28000. With the transfer, I was able to clear this, got my certificate, and I am glad that I have presented it at my place of work. I am optimistic about getting a promotion any time soon since I have proof of my qualifications. This will lead to a rise in my paycheck and I will be able to meet the basic needs of my family as well as pay school fees for my children. In addition, I have started applying for jobs in other companies and I am hopeful of new opportunities.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I completed my college studies in the year 2018 but I had not taken my certificate since I was still owing the school a huge amount of money. This had limited me from applying for white color jobs because all of them require one to at least have a college certificate. Because of this, I used to work as a casual laborer in one of the companies in our neighboring town that buys and sells sand soil to people. I would earn KES 8000 a month and sometimes less depending on the amount of work available. This was only enough for our basic needs and my wife would at times help me in paying school fees for our three children. Before receiving my transfer, my goal was to buy a dairy cow and clear my college fee arrears but since purchasing a dairy cow is costly, I decided to buy two goats at KES 5000 each and used KES 28000 to clear my college fee arrears. I will sell them after some time when they have increased in number and use the money to achieve my goal of owning a dairy cow. Using the remaining KES 16000, I bought some beddings, clothes, and food to last my family for some time.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Reduced worry levels on where to get money to support my daily household needs is what receiving this money means to me. I intend to buy one Friessian lactating cow for KES 40000 which will earn me KES 450 daily after selling 15 liters of milk daily for KES 30 per liter. I will then spend KES 20000 to buy 5 sheep as my store of wealth, which I will sell in future after they multiply, to buy a 5,000 liter water tank for harvesting rain water during rainy seasons.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I engage in casual jobs in people's homes to earn a living. It is never a guarantee to get such jobs and whenever I manage to get a well paying one, I prioritise stocking foodstuff, especially maize and bean in my house. In July this year, I was lucky enough to secure a 2 week contract in a construction company, which earned me KES 20000. I used KES 2000 to buy 1 sack of beans and 4 bags of maize which has eased my worries on where to get money to buy my daily food from.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My 5 acre piece of land seized being productive 5 years ago, and this is attributed to prolonged droughts as well as pests and diseases attacking crops. I used to harvest upto 5 bags of maize before the downfall, but now, harvesting one bag is a big achievement. I managed to harvest 1/2 a bag of maize this year, hence food security has been a real struggle.I engage in unreliable casual jobs such as fencing and cultivating people'farms to fend for myself, which is so unfortunate since it is never easy to get such jobs.
