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 ($467 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am grateful for the accomplishment I have realized after receiving both transfers from GiveDirectly. At the moment, I have a new goal to start paying for a piece of land that I had been hoping to add after obtaining a loan from a credit facility. I am making the first deposit the proceed to pay in bits till the last coin before I fully own the piece of land.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly sent us money directly to our accounts - something that has never happened in any aid that I had been seeing around. Equal amounts hit every account within the village that brought joy and happiness to every household at the same time without anyone getting worried that there could have been any biases. This was the best approach by GiveDirectly in my opinion where no one was given more favors than the other members of the village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 35000 right after receiving the second transfer on adding a dairy cow to the single one that has been providing us with milk whenever it is lactating. I had been suffering great setbacks whenever it dries up forcing me to spend a lot on the daily purchase till it calves down again. I am glad that we can now alternate their breeding to ensure a plentiful supply of milk in all seasons. I also fenced around my piece of land after buying a barbed wire and fencing poles worth KES 15000 to ease the rotational grazing pattern of my livestock. I spent the remaining KES 2500 on paying the labor charges.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment I received the first transfer, I was so excited as it was a confirmation that I will be able to finally accomplish the plans I had. I was home alone that morning getting ready to leave for my usual job when I got the message. I had to call my husband who is currently working in a town a little bit far from home to share the good news that I had received. He was happy as well and advised me to execute all the plans we had. I am grateful that I managed to spend every coming well, and looking forward to receiving the second transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a large dam on my fiend enabling my livestock to access water at any time even when I am not around. This had been a challenge for quite some time as I have had circumstances when I would pay someone to take them to the river and back. For convenience, I only needed some finances to finally construct a water reservoir to collect rainwater and open access by the herd at any time of the day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past 10 years now, livestock farming has been the fortitude of my household income. I had been dependant on the chicken project that I started after selling a bull from the herd I am rearing alongside. Milk production, eggs, and chicken selling have been earning me quite a reasonable income and great help in meeting several financial obligations within our household. On receiving the first transfer, I spent KES 10000 on renovating the old chicken coop after obtaining an additional chain link, four iron sheets, timber, and also corner posts to enhance the strengthening of the circumference walls. This renovation will ease the restaining of chickens since they cannot always be out depending on the condition of the surrounding farms. I also constructed a new dam, as I had been struggling with my livestock in search of water. Moving them to and from the nearby reservoirs has never been easy but after the construction of a large dam that has collected enough rainwater, I am no longer required to always be around as they can access the dam within their grazing fields. With the remaining amount, I managed to obtain iron sheets, nails, timber, and other construction material that I am currently using in putting up an extra house to provide a room for my children in the future and also visitors.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am employed with the county as a Lab technician in a nearby health center earning a monthly income of 150USSD and with this together with my husband we can meet our family needs but we hardly save for our future lives. To me receiving cash transfer means, I will be able to invest in more incoming generating activities that will ensure me a better future. I am planning to spend the entire transfer on farming. First, I will buy a dairy of approximately KES60000 to add to my herd. This means I will have more milk for my household consumption and sales. In addition, I will use another KES50000 to improve my poultry farming by building better chicken houses and adding more birds to my farm. With an increase in my farm produce, I will be able to invest more in other activities like my children's education and save some for our future lives.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My normal day starts with engaging in farming by giving my livestock minerals salts and water before going to my workplace where I will be there from 8 AM till 5 PM when I start my journey back home. In the evening just after arriving, I ensure that my cattle were well feed before I get into the house to prepare my supper. In the evening just after taking my supper is the happiest part of my day since this is the time I get back to my bed and relax as I flashback the good memories of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
From the year 2003 to the year 2013, I had been struggling to make ends meet in my life, engaging in all sorts of casual jobs and farming. I had just finished my college and I already had my three children thus giving them education, food or clothing was stressful since I had no income. To me lack of job from the year 2003 to 2013 was the biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life.
