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 ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Basically my plans were to invest more in livestock so that eventually after they breed I would have more farm animals which would help me create another business or if I needed money would help me financially when I was stuck.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am honestly very grateful for the funds that I received from you Givedirectly because it gave me the push that I needed, this is due to the fact that I always intended to start my own business but had no means to do so and now that is possible.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the transaction I decided to go ahead with the plan that I had made which was to buy a couple of farm animals. Therefore I went ahead and bought three cows which cost me KES 41,000 and four goats which cost me KES 8,000. I ended up using the KES 4,000 I was left with for the purposes of nourishment of myself and my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 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 at the grazing field busy looking after my goats, a reliable source of livelihood for the family. I vividly remember it was around 7 am when I received the message notification on my phone. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the Mpesa message indicating that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly. I was very happy for receiving my transfer which marked the beginning of accomplishing my heart's ambitions.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am currently owning dairy cows a venture that I had desired to start for a long time. Previously, I had only a few goats that I was keeping. In addition, I was able to clear the debt at our nearby food store where I had been taking food on credit. This had increased the understanding and trust between me and the shopkeeper.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 35,000 to purchase a local dairy cow and a calf this is because I had desired to own livestock specifically dairy cows. This is a profitable venture considering that it is a semi-arid area. I will be able to sell milk to earn income that will help meet my financial needs. I also used KES 10,000 to repair my motorbike which had mechanical problems. It was helping me, especially in times when there is not enough water for the family and the animals. Moreover, I used KES 5000 to clear the debt at our neighbor food store where I had taken foodstuff on credit. I used the remaining amount to purchase clothes for every family member, they had few clothes to change.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been a substance farmer and before we experienced the 2021 drought, my farm and livestock were doing just fine and had enough food. At the beginning of last year, all changed my crops and livestock died leaving us with nothing to feed on. The loss almost drove me into depression because I was left with no other means of providing for my family. My main focus now is livestock keeping since they can at least survive even in severe drought than crops farming. Receiving this money will enable me to buy 7 cows @ 14000 amounting to 89,000 KES then use the remaining amount of money on food. By doing this I will now be in a position to do other things when these animals start to multiply hence reducing the burden of having to do odd jobs just to make ends meet.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Before December we used to cover very long distances to fetch water but thankfully towards the end of it, the rains started coming. This brought joy and happiness to my life because we no longer had to travel far for water up to date.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Without a good source of income proving basic needs for my family has been my challenge. I burn charcoal and sell at 500 KES sometimes but this money is not always enough because it is not consistent. I struggle so much to buy food for my family, this made us resort to having a meal per day. This kind of lifestyle is not something that I want my family to continue experiencing and that is why I keep on pushing myself to find a permanent solution. My current challenges are therefore lack of sufficient amount of money to make ends meet and provide for my family comfortably.
