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 ($480 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?
I had planned on purchasing sofa set seats and household items that we were lacking. I did not have a new goal. The only emergency that came was the hospital bill. Since I felt unwell after receiving the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The training process was conducted well and people got enrolled and received the money. Most of the people who received the transfer spent it well. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 on purchasing sofa set seats for the new house that I constructed. I am so happy because whenever I have visitors at home they have decent seats to sit on. I spent another KES 20,000 on hospital bills. I felt unwell and visited a specialist at the hospital. I was treated and released, currently, I'm feeling well again and I am doing my daily activities well. I spent KES 15,000 on food and household items which we were lacking at that particular time. The rest of the money I saved to use on foodstuff. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($487 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was morning hours and I was on the farm busy farming. I had my phone with me but I had placed it aside at the farm. As I was going about my job, I heard it ringing notifying me of a new message but I didn't bother checking it. Suddenly, one of my neighbors called me asking me if I had received the SMS of the transfer. I checked my phone immediately when she had hanged up and I could not believe it when I saw the SMS saying that I had received KES 55000 in my mobile money account. I was so happy and I celebrated giving thanks to God because my plans were now going to be fulfilled.
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 was able to buy a few bags of maize for our consumption with part of the transfer. With the maize, we no longer go hungry like before. We were also able to buy sugar and hence we no longer take sugarless tea like most of the days before. All this is thanks to GiveDirectly for their support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my first transfer on buying a cow. I bought the cow at KES 30000. I decided to buy the cow because I usually incur the cost of buying a litre or two of milk daily at KES 45 per litre. This is costly to me because I do not have a stable source of income and I am not in good health because my legs are most of the time ailing. Another reason why I bought the cow is that it was going to be of great benefit to me in the future when it calves and multiplies in number. This is because I would be able to sell one of the calves and use the money on other important developments. I had cows before but when I got sick, I had to sell them so that I could raise the money for paying for my children's school fees. I didn't have the money to buy others and hence I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the help that they have given to me.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have rheumatoid arthritis and I have been in treatment for the last three years, i.e check-up every month. For a lasting solution, my doctor advised that I do a knee replacement surgery which is costly and I do not have the money to do the surgery. Receiving this money will mean that I will top up to that from my medical cover and do the surgery because the pain is unbearable when it is cold and treatment is also expensive and I have no one to take care of me when it gets too severe.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was so stressed because of my daughter who came home because of a domestic disagreement with her husband. I could not sleep and stayed awake every night worrying about this. I sought treatment and for the last six months, I sleep well every night. I also learnt to take things easy hence I see nothing to worry about anymore and so seeking treatment brought joy in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am facing now is with my finances. I have a daughter who came with her children and asked me to pay for their schools fees because she was not in a position to do so. This coupled with treatment that I do monthly has drained me financially. I am also old and cannot do strenuous jobs because of my health to cater for all their needs. I have sold some of my assets such as cows and a portion of my land so that I can get money to support them and my treatment.
