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
53150 KES ($441 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?
My new goal is to complete my unfinished house as this will guarantee my family's safety once it is done.I had previously started construction but left it halfway due to lack of funds. I'm hoping to complete it with proceeds from my small business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly has elevated me and given me hope for the future. It has not been easy making ends meet but I am thankful that I now have something to look forward to. Thank you Give Directly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been married for sometime now and according to our customs,my husband is supposed to pay dowry to my family. Due to financial constraints,he was not able to. We decided to settle that using these second transfers so that we would fulfill our cultural obligations. I then started construction of our marital home as the previous house was badly dilapilated.With the rest of the amount,I ventured into animal farming and so I bought four goats to rear which I will resell in future for a profit.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6pm in the evening and I was preparing the vegetables to get them ready to cook supper when I got the SMS confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy when I got the money because I had been told about it and promised but I did not actually know if I was truly going to get it, therefore, I was so happy when I received it because I couldn't do a lot of things before but with this money I was able to address them. These things include buying some livestock, repairing my house by reinforcing its walls with cement as well as giving part of the transfer to my husband to take to my parents as dowry because he hadn't been able to give anything to my parents yet. It was not possible to have these things addressed because my occasional job of hawking fried fish hardly raised enough money which mostly catered for my family's daily immediate needs especially food.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I was able to get a mattress and now sleep so well and comfortably because before the coming of GiveDirectly to our village and getting me to be enrolled into the program, I used to sleep on the floor which used to hurt me so much. I was also able to livestock that was some goats, which I also desired to have which makes me so happy and grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 19200 on repairing my house by reinforcing its walls with cement because they had lots of holes in them which used to bring so much cold and wind at night that caused us frequent fevers as well as mosquitoes that posed the health risk of spreading malaria to my family. I couldn't afford to have my house repaired and its walls reinforced because my occasional job of hawking fried fish hardly raised enough money which mostly catered for my family's daily immediate needs especially food. So, I am now so happy that I sleep well, my family is safe from the cold and mosquitoes at night as well as potentially all the health risks from such. This house keeps my items safe and I am no longer worried even when I'm away because I just close the door.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I was born with a mind of doing business but Capital is the standing block which makes my dream a night mare. I opened a tea business just here at our village by the road side but the business came to closure because of the covid 19 last year.
I worked in a hotel in Mombasa as a restaurant attendant and gained potential experience and skills in serving the customers in a professional manner and also I have skills as a cook. My tea room was very successful but the food items became very expensive and I had a low turnout of customers due to the total lockdown during the Covid 19 pandemic . This made me to close the business because I was running at a loss.
Receiving this money means I will reopen my tea business and by having an excellent capital, I belive i will prosper and kick out poverty in my house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I received a relief food from the county government last year december.l received 10 kilograms of maize and 6 kilograms of beans. It brought joy to me because I am still enjoying the beans.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
After I closed my business, I totally rely on my husband who is doing some casual labour in the construction industry and therefore I am lucking food in my house. I don't have capital to reopen my business again after covid 19 pandemic. I am living a destitute life although I am ambitious lady.
