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 ($433 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My dream is to open a hotel. A nice place where families can come and commune and have fun, while enjoying good food. In the short term, I would love to get my own boda boda where I can ferry people and have the profits fully to myself. I pray this will come to pass soon enough and possibly, with GiveDirectlys help, very soon!
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly have allowed me to take my kids to school after a long time. I was in a bad way, wife leaving, no money etc....but when GiveDirectly came through, they gave me hope and that's what they excel at, Giving Hope to recipients. They have allowed me to believe in myself again and to believe that miracles do happen. May they always be there to help others and be blessed eternally.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers from GiveDirectly allowed me to buy 2 male cows and 4 goats(2 kids and 2 fully grown). It found us at a time when both myself and my father had been ailing and part of the funds went towards our medical expenses. With the bulk of the balance, I built a 2 bedroom house, with an attached verandah. My wife, whom I had married whilst she had a daughter in Garde 5 had left, and with my income as a boda boda rider ferrying people and making between KES. 200 and KES. 400 a day, the most I could cater for was school fees for our two other kids, which constitutes KES. 150 for each, per month at Mikamini School. I am currently in the process to bring my wife back home and these funds will and have continued to play a big role in allowing me to care for myself and my kids as best as I can, while still focusing on bringing their mom home. GiveDirectly has been a blessing to me in more ways than I can mention.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was late in the evening at around 6:00pm and I was at home trying to harvest some coconuts for sale. Throughout that week, I had been wondering where I could get some money to meet my households needs in terms of provision of food and clearing my children school fee arrears. While still on the coconut tree, I heard a message's alert on my phone. Fortunately, when I came down to check, I was overwhelmed with joy to realize that it was GD's transfer. I felt some peace of mind and hopeful in life. Thanks to GiveDirectly for it's amazing work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is owning an oxen. Since I was born, I have never owned a cow although I had been desiring even to rare goats. Courtesy of GiveDirectly's transfers, I have begun raising livestock hence I am hopeful I shall have more cows and goats that will help my family in future. This makes me feel some sense of self-esteem. It has thus earned me respect among my peers in the village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my most recent transfer to buy an oxen at KES 14,300. I did this with an aim of getting another one with my second transfer. Thereafter, I shall strive to buy an oxen-drawn plough which I shall use to aid my farming pratices. In our area anyone who owns oxen and oxen-drawn plough is considered rich and rarely does such a person lack food. In addition, I bought 20 iron sheets for KES 19,000 which I shall use to build a new house in my own home.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been having a desire of doing a retail shop business for many years but my income does not permanently allow me to start it. I depend on casual labour doing construction jobs as a helper of a Mason. I have been thinking of how I will have a freedom of doing my business so that I can grow financially to be wealthy but isn't possible to achieve my ambition. Receiving this money means I will fulfill my dream of doing business. I will build a small kiosk which will be the base of my business just here at my compound. I will stock domestic products like maize flour, sugar ,eggs, salt and other products. I will purchase dry fish from Mombasa because they do good business here in my area and I believe in one year's time , I will be totally different person from who I am.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I got a casual job which was paying me 300 KES a day just here at my town and it saved me for 2 months which made me pay school fees for my children and I bought food .Having cleared my 2 children's School fees and also having a stock of maize flour and beans in my house, it brought joy and happiness to me because I know my children won't starve of hunger for the whole of this month.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have many problems in my house. My wife ran away because of poverty. I have tried to seek her to come back but invain. I believe if she hears that I got my transfers from Givedirectly organization, she will come back . There is no food in my house nor Money to buy clothes or other items. My house is also very small and it cannot accommodate my family of 2 children.
