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 ($518 USD)
access_time 4 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 it would have been if I never received these transfers in that, I purchased a solar lamp for lighting purposes in my household. Due to this, my children nowadays do their revision in the evening without any problems and disturbance. Secondly, paying school fees for my children and have them in their various schools is very delightful for me to see them prosper in their education which shall allow them to have a better life in the future. Thanks you GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well through issuing money to the less vulnerable households in my village. The living standards of many people in our village have been uplifted to be better placed because of GiveDirectly. I do not see what GiveDircetly did wrong at its operation.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to purchase building materials that contributed to the construction of my new decent house. I appreciate the fact that, I am leaving in a better shelter as compared to my previous old degraded shanty . I paid school fees for my five children. The remaining amount I bought a solar lamp and food for my family's consumption.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning two oxen to me is the biggest difference in my daily life because I have been using hoes to till my land for far too long now. This was tiresome and could not allow me to fully utilize my farm. I am glad that I will be able to increase the acreage of my arable farm for a better harvest now and in future. In addition, I will also be able to do my farming early and in a timely manner.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken up by a message notification around 4:00 am. On checking to confirm who the sender was I realized that it was from GiveDirectly informing me I had received my first transfer. I was very happy to receive the amount of money that GiveDirectly had promised us. It was like a dream come true for me since I had never imagined that I would actually receive such amount of money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 28000 of the transfer to purchase two oxen. This was in a bid to improving my farming and farming practices. Having these oxen to us is a big boost to our farming because it enables us to increase the size of land under cultivation and reduces the cost of farming. I also bought building materials for the renovation of my house which was in a bad state. Because of this, I purchased iron sheets, building poles and paid for the mason for his job. I also saved a portion of the money to pay school fees for my children who are now on holiday. I spent the remaining amount to cater for the family household basic needs such as foodstuffs and clothing for my children.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Life in our village is so challenging that, providing food, shelter, clothing and education is big achievement. My desire has been to live a happy life with my family but since I am jobless, my wife opted to separate me six years ago. I plan to reshape my life for the better when I receive the transfers from GiveDirectly. I will buy an oxen and ox plough with my first disbursement in order to upscale my farming and also to construct a spacious house for myself. The other transfer will help me to start livestock business, an investment that will provide me with an income to cater for my daily needs. Therefore, this is basically what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the better part of my day working at my farm. I only come home in the afternoon to prepare lunch and share with my children who would have come back home from school by then. Thereafter, I go back to the farm and return home in the evening when I am so exhausted. It is in the evening when I get time to rest, and hence, this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My wife opted to separate me six years ago because I have no any source of income to sustain the family. This has depressed me a lot due to the loneliness and the burden of being the only care taker for my children. I am forced to stay at home, something that can not give me any opportunity to go and search for jobs outside our village. Therefore, I consider lack of parental support from my wife as the biggest hardship I have ever faced.
