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 ($442 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?
At the moment I do not have any new goals because I want to concentrate on the eatery business that I opened. I believe that with good management I would be able to see my children through school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Our lives have been impacted positively, and the changes are evident everywhere across the village. Never in my life had I witnessed tremendous support that amazingly lifted our living standards. I am so grateful and happy for the overwhelming support from our donors.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Running an eatery in the market has been one of the great achievements that I am proud of. I am a mother of seven children, therefore, school fees have been a major challenge that I have had to deal with for a while now. Education is the key to chasing poverty far from us, thus I work extra hard to ensure that all of my children are in school. I had used my initial transfer on boosting my business, but when I received my second transfer, I spent the whole amount on school fees. I am forever grateful for the support that amazingly changed my living standards.
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?
It was around 7 am while on my way to a village meeting. That's when I received a message alert on my phone confirming I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy but chose to hide my joy from my neighbors who had also received theirs.
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 the transfers is availability of adequate food to feed my family. This has relieved me of the routine of waking up early just to sell githeri in order to feed my family.This came with me challenges resulting from customers delay in paying me and others not paying at all. And currently I am planning to start a potato chips business to replace the githeri business because an established customer base
Secondly, owning a dairy cow is another big difference whose income will help in school fees payment. This is because I had desired to buy an additional cow for the past five years when my kids joined high school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of five and have been selling githeri for the past 10 years. From this, I usually get a total of KES 600 a day which usually caters to household consumption, school stationery, and savings.
Lack of milk was my major challenge when GiveDirectly transfers arrived. Therefore, I spent KES 37,000 on a dairy cow which is currently the source of milk for my family. This is because the one I had has been on its dry spell. As a result, I have been buying a liter of milk in the past three months. But since GiveDirectly transfers arrived the milk expenses are no more.
Additionally, I spent KES 11,000 on the payment of the circumcision fee for my teenage son which marks the transition from childhood to adulthood in our community. and KES 4000 on his clothing. This is because the transfers arrived when my son wanted to be circumcised to go through the rite.
Last but not least, I spent KES 4,000 on a bag of maize which has sustained my family for the past month and will be over in two days. Additionally, I spent KES 3,000 on the repayment of debts.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a mother of six and four of them are still under my care. I am in a polygamous family thus I oversee the needs of my household more than my husband. I primarily depend on small food businesses to meet our daily needs. I earn an average of KES 100 a day after deducting my daily inputs. This is too small to cather for our family needs. Among my children, two are in secondary while two are in primary school. I struggle to pay their fee since my income is too small. Receiving this money means education for my children. I am planning to use KES20000 to settle the fee arrears and clear the next term fee. This will be my happiness. I am certain that they will have ample time to study thus have good grades. With good grades my children will be in position to join good colleges and have good jobs. Thus enjoy better living standards during their family time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a mother, my happiness is having a healthy and peaceful family. I do not have a formal job to earn a good income but I thank God I have not let my family go to bed with empty stomachs. In the last six months, my happiness has been good health, peace and happiness we have had in our family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been a businesswoman in the nearby Chebunyo market for quite long. In the year 2018, my business store was removed since I had built it along the road. This was the beginning of another hard life for me. Though, I got back to business my profits of KES 100 a day are not enough to meet our needs. Lack of a stable source of income is the biggest challenge.
