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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
A strong wind recently destroyed my house, forcing us to seek shelter at my neighbor's homestead. The roof had developed holes, and the walls were significantly weakened due to leaks from the rain. Its condition made it vulnerable to further destruction. Because of this, I am planning to build a spacious two-roomed house that will accommodate my growing family comfortably. Our current situation is challenging since we are temporarily staying with my neighbor. To make this dream a reality, I have been saving $20 from my transfers each month to purchase two iron sheets. I’m pleased to say that I have already bought 10 iron sheets. Once I acquire the remaining 10 pieces, we can begin the construction process. Accomplishing this will bring me great happiness. After that, I intend to save my transfers and start a grocery business that will help me support my children once my dream house is completed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It's unfortunate that strong winds have destroyed my house, forcing me to seek shelter with my neighbor. This situation is challenging, but we must adapt for now. My spouse and I depend on farming and casual work to support our four children, which makes it hard to quickly gather the necessary materials for rebuilding. At the moment, we are experiencing a drought, halting our farming due to the lack of rain. After receiving my recent transfer, I bought three iron sheets for $30.50 to begin the rebuilding process. I also set aside $45 from the remaining funds for my children's school fees to ensure they are not sent home for unpaid balances. Lastly, I used the remaining $40.50 to buy food for our family since we had exhausted our supplies at home.
28th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am staying in a small one-roomed house with my four children and spouse. Since the roof has developed holes, it leaks seriously when it rains, making the situation unbearable. Due to this, I am planning to build a spacious two-roomed house to accommodate my growing family comfortably, as the current one is too cramped. To achieve this dream, I have been allocating $20 from my transfers every month to buy two iron sheets. I am glad that I have already managed to buy 10 pieces of iron sheets. Once I get the remaining 10 pieces, we can start the building process. Achieving this will make me very happy.
After that, I plan to save my transfers and venture into a grocery business, which will help me take care of my children once I finish building my dream house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am planning to build a spacious two-roomed house for my family since our current one-roomed house is too cramped. When I received my most recent transfer, I bought five iron sheets for $69 to address the housing issue as quickly as possible. Additionally, I spent $18 on food for family consumption to ensure we have enough to last for a few days while we continue working to support my children. With the remaining $15, I paid school fees for my children to prevent them from being sent home due to unpaid balances.
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My house is very small and having a bigger house that can accommodate my family of three children has been my dream. To achieve this I have been gradually buying building materials for my house and I am happy with the progress I have made. I have a target of 20 iron sheets and am currently at 8. I plan to use my transfers to buy more building materials and finally have my house built and completed. Achieving this will make me very happy. After that, I plan to save my transfers and venture into a grocery business which will help me take care of my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With a very small one-roomed house and worn-out roofing living with my three children which is not enough for us, I made it my mission to build another home that will comfortably accommodate all of us. With the help of the transfers, I have been gradually buying building materials for my house. I therefore spent $57 of my transfers to buy more iron sheets for my home and I am happy with the progress I am making. I further bought food for my family using $15 of the transfers so we wouldn't go hungry. Finally, with schools resuming, I needed to pay school fees for the children so that they would go to school, I spent the final $15 to pay for their school fees ensuring that their education was not interrupted.
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My major goal is to complete the construction of my house, a dream I've nurtured for years. Once my home is done, I plan to open a grocery shop in our village, this will address the issue of distance to the nearest market facility. Additionally, I am eager to acquire skills in tailoring, investing in training that will allow me to create and sell clothes. This venture is not only a personal interest but a strategic move for income generation, contributing not only to my own financial stability but also to the economic well-being of my community. I'm so grateful for the assistance we are getting from Givedirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In the past few months, I decided to prioritize the construction of our new home. So, I spent $40 on buying building materials for the house. The current one had fallen down, leaving us with just one room to accommodate my four children and my husband. His job as a casual laborer brought in only $5 on good days, so improving our living conditions had seemed like an impossible dream. The Givedirectly transfers made it possible for us to take a step towards a better future, providing some much-needed space and comfort for my family.
During the holidays, I spent $24 on food and shopping to bring joy to our home. In the past, it had been challenging to make ends meet, and holidays were especially difficult. But with the financial support, I could create a more festive atmosphere for my children. The remaining $38 went towards school fees and other school requirements, ensuring that my children are always in school without disruption. Before we started receiving this transfer, I used to burn charcoal, and the income from that was barely enough to sustain us. Now, my children no longer have to miss school, and we thank God for the positive change brought about by the unconditional monthly cash transfer from Givedirectly.
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I plan to construct a new house, given that our current one leaks during rainy seasons. Following the completion of the new house, I will establish a small vegetable and pastries vending business. This venture will allow me to generate income to support our household needs and cover our children's school expenses. Furthermore, I intend to enroll in a tailoring training college, I have a passion for tailoring, this would not only align with my interests but also promises to be an additional source of income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband works as a casual laborer on construction sites, but the jobs are often insufficient to meet our needs, so we frequently share financial responsibilities. This time, it was my turn to cover the school fees for our three children. Through the Givedirectly transfers I paid $10 for their school fees. Additionally, I spent $15 on purchasing maize flour directly from the posho mill, to support our household food supply. This was a more cost-effective option than buying from local shops. I also acquired various household items and invested $5 in buying a hen with the hope of generating income once they hatch, and this will give us financial freedom.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My hope is to build a house. I have already started purchasing all the necessary materials for the construction. Additionally, I look forward to seeing my children complete their education and become independent in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a caring mother, I used $15 from the assistance provided by GiveDirectly to pay my three children's primary school fees, ensuring their educational journey towards independence. I allocated an additional $19 to purchase essential items like food, soap, and oil, providing for our family's immediate needs. I am immensely grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has relieved my financial worries and empowered my children's education and future prospects.
9th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would like to open a business. I would like to open a grocery store for business. I hope the business will help me take care of my children's school fees and financial needs at school. I will save up until I have gotten up to $50, which I will use to set up this business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
While I burn charcoal for sale, my husband works any odd jobs he may find in the village. The majority of the time, we rely on him, but his work is unreliable because he occasionally goes for weeks without working. The amount I make, on the other hand, is $3 every two weeks. We occasionally find it difficult to provide for the needs of our four children due to our poor income. Three of them, who are currently in primary school, owed the school $20 in arrears, so they were unable to take the end-of-year exam until they paid it. In order to pay the arrears when I obtained my transfer, I did so by paying $20 in school. I spent $34 on food items including chicken, wheat flour, rice, and groceries so that my family could celebrate Christmas as they have always wished. Anyone who looked at my kids could tell they were content and enthusiastic because of the smiles on their faces. They had never celebrated Christmas with such joy as they did this year. I felt gratified as a parent to see my kids content and happy. With the $14 left over, I bought five packets of cornmeal and several detergents.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving this transfer, I had a charcoal business in that I would burn timber and sell it at $3 per bag. The business was hazardous, most of the time I would be admitted to the hospital because of chest pains and burns. I later closed it and became a stay-at-home mother. Receiving this money has helped me start a business. I buy a goat at $30 and sell it at $50, I also buy chicken at $3 and later sell it at $5 or $10 per chicken kilo. The money from the livestock has helped me pay school fees for my four who are in grades two, five, and play group respectively and the last born is yet to start. The school fees accumulate to $15 a month for the three children. Receiving this money has helped me pay for the school fees without strain as I force on other bills.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirecetly does so well in enrolling the needy in the program and giving cash to the needy. The transfer has been helpful in terms of paying school fees as well as buying food for the family. For instance, I have noticed some positive changes in my life courtesy of GD transfer. GD does well in all its ways of operation
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a jobless woman who only depends on making and selling charcoal to earn a living. Similarly, my husband does casual jobs to get some income. As a result, as a family, we have been having very low financial flow. When I received my transfer, I spent KES 1,000 to pay school fees for my three children who are in primary school. Although I have not spent the rest, my intention is to use them to buy two iron sheets. I shall be buying iron sheets in bits to build a new house. The current house is small and leaks heavily when it rains thus subjecting my household to discomfort.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was about 10pm and I was going to bed when a beep from my phone caught my attention. Out of excitement I clicked the message which was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly.I burst into laughter because it was quite a surprise to have received the cash transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being in GiveDirectly support program that consistently sends me the cash transfer is the biggest difference in my life. I am optimistic that atleast my family will be able to have a decent meal more often than before.Currently am living a small single room and am forced to have my four children sleep in their grandmother's house.I am aspiring to help my husband build a bigger house which can accommodate all my children and we can all be a family once again.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband has been unemployed for quite sometime. We mainly depend on his casual jobs which earn him a maximum of KES 500 per day.Due to our financial situation have been forced to work as a charcoal vendor, which pays KES 300 per day on good days in order to help support my family of six members.I spent my KES 670 to buy food because that particular day we ran out of food.The rest KES 500 was spent in buying my younger daughter school uniform because the one she had was worn out and tattered which made her uncomfortable and the laughing stock in her class.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My dad was so callous that he neglected his obligation of educating my four sisters and I. For him, it was worthless to school girls (only the brother saw it through primary education). I dropped out of school while in class three and went to town looking for employment. It was during this time that I got married. Life has been continuously difficult owing to the fact that I am jobless and my husband relies on casual labour earning peanuts ( 300 KES a day). My desire is to help him in bringing food for the family and it is for this reason that I will enrol in tailoring training upon receive my first two transfers. This course will cost approximately 10 000 KES which I will be paying in monthly installments of 2000 KES. I will spend another 10 000KES to buy my own sewing machine. This is a goal I wish to accomplish within the first year of my transfers.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have had pregnancy complications for my first three children. The last born, 5 months old, gave me a different experience. It was in October 22nd at around 6pm when my family joyful welcomed a beautiful girl. I have never forgotten the day especially after my husband slaughtered a he-goat on the tenth day (during the child's traditional celebration).
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband has three sisters-in-law. They all run small businesses save for me. It pains me when I wake up without a particular errand that could subscribe in generating income for the family. I had shared with my husband my hankering for being a tailor but his financial instability has made it impossible.