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 ($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 had I not received the transfer. This is because I now own my own motorcycle. Due to this, my daily income has increased from KES 100 to around KES 500 or more depending with how the day was. Due to this, I have been able to meet our daily needs on time and without much struggle. Running my own business has also enabled me to spend more time with my family and closely oversee some work at home.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by helping everyone in the village and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving the transfer, I had been employed by one of my neighbors to offer taxi business using his motorcycle. Having operated this business for three years, I was well conversant with different routes and I had so many customers. My transfer came in handy as it enabled me to purchase a motorcycle worth 70000 after topping up some. I settled to ran my own motorcycle business since I had seen how profitable it was.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 2pm and I was riding my motorbike on my usual daily hustle. I later saw the message when I stopped thinking it was a customer who had paid me via mobile money but to the contrary, it was the GiveDirectly transfer. I smiled to myself. When I got home, I told my wife and she was very happy though she said that the transfer had delayed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Putting together money to buy a cow is hard due to financial constraints. The transfer has made a whole difference that right now I have a cow, we can wear good clothes and we have the confidence of welcoming visitors because we have nice seats that we bought from the transfer. Thank you GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a heifer, bought clothes for my family members and bought seats for my house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money mean a lot to me. Over the past year I have been praying to God that one day I become the recipient too in this program. I have struggled with Boda Boda riding because it is my main source of income. So, when this money comes i will use it buy dairy cows which will help me get alternative source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of the day for me is at 7pm in the evening. This is the time when I come home to meet my family after meeting my daily target of Kshs. 500 and I have purchased food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever face is the one they happen in the year 2018 when I sold an ailing cow at a throw a way price of Ksh. 8000 yet I bought it for Ksh. 37000. This came as a big blow to me and my young family because the cow was about to lactate the following month. It took me the whole year to forget that incident because I had sacrificed all savings from Boda Boda business to purchase it.
