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 I complete the construction of my Iron roofed house, I intend to build a kiosk. This will help fend for my family in terms of food and school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly sensitization was very informative. For instance, we were advised to plan for the money before arrival. We were also instructed to always keep our MPesa pin safe.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a widow and am a mother of 7. I have worked as a firewood and charcoal vendor for the past 22 years. From this, we used to get KES 200 a day majorly for household consumption.
Before GiveDirectly, I had only one dairy cow which produced milk for household consumption and school fees as well.
On arrival of the second transfer, I saw the need for an additional cow. I, therefore, used KES 22,000 on a dairy cow, KES 10,000 on five goats. This will not only be an additional source of milk but also an income for school fees.
Additionally, I spent KES 5,000 on 16 Ironsheets in preparation to build a visitor's house. This is because I only have one house built over thirty years which can accommodate my family only
Lastly, I also spent KES 2,000 on clothing and KES 260 on a set of cups. The rest I have saved towards payment of house construction laborers.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
9am when I heard a message notification from my phone. When I checked it it was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I was preparing to go to the farm to dig my farm, I stop whatever I was doing and plan on how to withdrew the money. My family members felt so happy I knew I would be able to buy a dairy cow
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Dairy cow. I used to buy milk daily and this is so costly
Casual jobs and small scale farming
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Dairy cow 20k
Build a house for my goats 5k
Sofa set seats 3k
School fees for my children in various schools
Mattress and utensils
Bought pole planning on building a house
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means financial stability and better shelter to my family. I am an independent and jobless woman with 7 children. My husband and I separated in the year 1993 after a family conflict. I came back home and was given my late grandmothers house to live in.I resorted to collecting firewood for sale.It has been a great deal searching for firewood in the Siongiroi forest and carrying them on my back to hotels in Siongiroi Town.Because the work is tedious, I am only able to carry one bundle of firewood a day.This earns me KES 200 of which I restrict myself to spending KES 150 a day.My dream is to put up a better shelter for my family after struggling to buy a quarter acre of land for my family. These transfers will enable me to build a better house with approximately KES 40000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months my happiness has been brought about by my three married daughters. They often call me to make sure am happy and send me some money.These makes me joyous because am assured that they are at peace and are doing well in their marriage.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My household is currently facing the challenge of inadequate food and poor shelter. Having 3 children and 1 grandchild to shelter is a challenge because as you can see this small hut cannot accommodate all of us. My son has to seek a place to sleep in from the neighborhood. This usually hurts me a lot because my children will not have a strong bond and his safety also worries me. Having no dairy cow also subjects my family to nutritional deficiency because we depend on purchased milk which sometimes we do not get.
