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 ($435 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I save money so that when my child starts school, she can go to a good school. He is three years old. I would also love to expand my current house to a two-roomed house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The organization calling us, which makes me happy. Visiting us at our homes and getting acquitted with where we live is a plus for the organization.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before the transfer, I worked as a brick mason getting a wage of $5 a day. In a month I would work for fifteen days. The money was never enough. Then I received a transfer from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed and happy. I decided to start a motorbike business. Bought a second-hand motorbike for $45000. I have one child and a wife and the business sustains us.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was preparing to go to work at around 10 am in the morning just immediately after I had taken my breakfast when my phone vibrating. When I looked at that’s when I got a confirmation message about the cash from Give Directly. I was more than an excited man. I knelt down and prayed to God and thanked him for the blessings very early in the day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My biggest difference is on my Kids. I am happy that they are able to continue their education and it’s due to the cash from Give Directly. I want my kids to get good education and go to school so that their can have better lives in future. I want them to be able to sustain the future needs of their family. I am grateful for the cash from Give Directly as it has helped me in realizing dreams for my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I did spend the amount in paying school fees for my children. They had a huge fee balances and the money helped me in clearing the fees. I also bought a bed and mattress where I and my children could sleep on. I also used some part of the money to settle bride price for my wife. The rest of the money was used to buy food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means self independence for our house hold. My wife's biggest aspiration is to become a tailor. I will use 20,000 Kenyan shillings to pay school fees for my wife to join a tailoring school. I will then spend 30,000 Kenyan shillings to start a tailoring business for her. I am convinced that by doing all this, my wife will be self reliant.As for me, I will use 40,000 Kenyan shillings to buy a second hand motorcycle. Being a roofer, it is always hard for me to move swiftly to my places of work. The motorcycle will be a big boost because I will be able to reach my clients in the shortest time possible. I will also use 10,000 Kenyan shillings to repair my leaking roof. The remaining 10,000 shillings will go into our savings Incase of any emergency that may arise.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is the evening. As a roofer, I spend a better part of my day repairing and constructing roofs of my clients. It is in the evening that I get back home to rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced in life is lack of money. Lack of money has made it impossible for my wife to go to a tailoring school. It makes me sad seeing my being idle at home. She is forced to fully depend on me.
