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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a dairy cow. I used to buy milk from my neighbors daily and this was so costly for me since I do not have a continuous source of income. I depend on small scale poultry keeping project. I do sell eggs at the market to earn an income to meet other basic household needs including buying milk. When I received the second transfer I found it Worth to invest in dairy farming. Currently I have enough milk for my family unlike before, I sell the extra milk at the shopping center to earn an income to buy dairy meals and other household items. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard and given us hope to improve and grow milk production in our village.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy water tank. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on dairy cow. I used to buy milk daily from my neighbor and this is so costly for me. I decided to invest in this to reduce the daily cost. The rest of the money I bought food for the family. We did not had enough food in store for the family when I received the money. We do small scale farming and the harvest is so small. It cannot last for a longer time. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard to be much better.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I do not know how to read and whenever I receive text messages, they do not bother me. On the day the transfers were sent, my son came telling me that he had received the transfers and he wanted to check my phone to see if I had also received it. On checking the phone, the transfer message was there and I was very happy and I knelt down to thank God and GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that we are enjoying good food that we could not afford before. I am happy that my sons have their own house to sleep since they used to ask for a place to sleep from their friends.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I built a house for my 2 sons since they did not have a place to sleep. I also paid school fees for my son who is in college. The remainder of the transfer was spent on food.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am an aged widow. As such, receiving this money means that I shall be well-nourished in the future. This is because I will buy another cow since I have only one now. As a result, I will have sufficient milk for consumption and selling any surpluses to earn some income for purchasing other food items. Thank you GiveDirectly for making my future more promising.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I am now aged, I usually move around in my compound checking on how my family members are fairing. Hence, the happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am retiring to bed knowing that each family member is fairing on well. This means there is a continuity of life in my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I lost my husband about five years ago and life has been tough because we no longer have a source of income for our livelihood. He was a retired games ranger and we used to depend on his pension, especially to buy food. Since my age has significantly advanced, I cannot manage to handle certain jobs. Precisely, I am depending on donations from my children to survive. So, his demise served as the biggest hardship I have faced because he used to provide for us.
