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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Currently, I own four goats which I purchased using GiveDirectly's transfers. Recently, I used $50 from these transfers to buy another goat. I believe investing in goats is wise because they multiply easily, and selling them allows me to cover my children's school fees. I am a mother of five children, with four currently attending school and one too young. From the transfers, I allocated $20 to clear my children's school fees, ensuring their education remains uninterrupted. Additionally, I spent $32 on food to sustain my family for the week. Managing these expenses allows me to support my children's education and ensure our daily needs are met.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently live in a two-room house with six of my children. At night, four of them go to sleep at their grandmother's house. My goal is to build a separate house for my children. I envision a two-room structure where my daughters will have their own rooms and my sons will have theirs as well. To achieve this, I plan to use the transfers to purchase building materials such as sticks, metal sheets, and sand. Although I am currently unemployed, I manage our livestock and believe that with careful saving from these transfers, I can accomplish this goal. It will bring immense joy to our family to have a home where each child has their own space, fostering comfort and privacy for everyone.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having six children in our current two-room house feels cramped and uncomfortable. Thus, my spouse and I have prioritized building a more spacious home for our family. To make this dream a reality, I've started purchasing iron materials gradually with each monthly transfer from GiveDirectly. Our goal is to construct a spacious house for our children soon. I'm incredibly grateful to GiveDirectly because, without their support, this project would have taken centuries to accomplish. My husband alone couldn't shoulder the burden, but with GiveDirectly's assistance, we can make our dream home a reality much sooner.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I'm truly grateful to GiveDirectly for empowering me financially. Previously, I relied solely on my spouse for all our family's needs. However, since receiving support from GiveDirectly, I've gained independence and can now handle household responsibilities like purchasing food and paying fees. With my most recent transfer, I decided to invest in a goat for $32. This serves as a valuable asset for future financial security, as goats multiply quickly and add to my financial stability. Additionally, I allocated $54 to replace my old mattress, providing better sleep quality. Lastly, I purchased sugar for $2 and covered my children's fees, amounting to $14.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the impending school reopening in January, I allocated $8 towards procuring essential stationery supplies for my children, crucial for facilitating their learning. Additionally, I invested $12 in purchasing new school uniforms to replace their worn-out ones. Furthermore, I settled the $14 school fees for the new term. During the festive month of December, I dedicated $24 to purchasing fresh attire for my children, adding to the joy of our holiday celebrations. Moreover, I allocated $10 towards procuring food, enhancing our familial bonding experiences with delectable meals. In November of the previous year, I utilized my entire transfer to hire assistance for weeding my three-acre maize farm, ensuring a bountiful harvest that will sustain my family for the next three months. The financial transfers have been instrumental in meeting my family's needs, significantly alleviating the burden on my husband in providing for our household.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My objective is to construct a two-room house to accommodate my five children. The current dwelling we inhabit is cramped and insufficient for our family of eight. Erecting a new residence will not only provide adequate space for my children but also afford me the privacy I desire. I am profoundly grateful for the financial assistance provided by these transfers, significantly improving our quality of life.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am so privileged to have been a recipient of the Givedirectly transfers. I have been able to make decisions and take care of needs in my home that I couldn't think I would do. I bought my children a mattress at $45 since they have had one that was completely worn out. I also got to buy a goat in June at $32. I also was able to buy some building poles at $1 each and got 35 which was $35. I added $1 and bought all the required poles.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I lost my kitchen that also acts like an animal shade to the rain. Over years the wood that built it had been exposed to termites that weakened it and when the rains started the house was brought down by the rain. I need to replace it since my goats have no place to stay and the rain is still ongoing. I have bought the building poles thanks to Givedirectly and I have already also started making payments for the grass for thatching now. I am now aiming to raise $75 for the labour which I believe will complete the building of this house.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the transfer in March, I utilized a portion to purchase food. I bought food worth $14 for my household. Getting Food has been a struggle and this would sustain us for a while. I then allocated $20 for my four children's school fees. I didn't want a situation where they would be sent back home due to lack of fees payment.
In April, I decided to clear the first term's fees arrears with a payment of $20. This brought so much joy to my husband allowing him to focus on farming during the onset of the rainy season. We engaged in planting maize on our three-acre plot, along with cultivating vegetables and green grams. With the remaining $14, I chose to purchase seven packets of maize flour, leaving my husband responsible for the remaining food and other basic requirements.
Finally last month, I allocated $10 from the transfers for the start of the second term's school fees. I then put an extra $24 on farming to support weeding and completion of the farming process. I actively participate in farming and also tend to livestock. I have 18 goats and 9 cows. My daily routine involves preparing my children for school and joining my husband on the farm. Once I 'm done with the farm I take the livestock for grazing. I would later return at midday and prepare lunch for my household before heading back out for grazing.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Within the span of a year, my objectives include constructing a new house for my children, as well as extending and repairing my existing house due to its age and vulnerability to strong winds. These plans entirely depend on the success of our farming endeavors. I'm hopeful that the harvest would ensure an abundance of food and enable us to save on our current food expenses. With these savings, we aspire to acquire additional cows for resale, thereby enhancing our financial stability and facilitating the comfortable payment of school fees.
Furthermore, we aim to expand our goat population, as they reproduce at a faster rate. Our plan is to sell them in order to accumulate funds for purchasing more cows. This approach will create opportunities for our children to pursue higher education, unlocking brighter prospects for their future.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
To provide for our three children and me, my husband takes on casual jobs like sweeping to earn a living. Every month, he sends home up to $20 to cover our basic needs like food, school fees, and sanitary essentials. Given the tough economy and high cost of living, this amount can hardly last my family for more than two weeks. My wish is to someday have the capacity to reliably support the needs of my family and reduce the overreliance on my husband. Gladly, the recent three cash transfers from Give Directly made a way for me to contribute to the household’s needs and help my spouse. I spent a total of $16 on food to boost the little that was left and ensured that my children never starved. Next, I acquired a goat worth $32 to rear. Since I lack a reliable source of income, am certain that when the goat reproduces in the future, I can sell them to generate quick funds for my children’s school fees. Also, I used $20 to clear a school fee debt for my children as they had been constantly sent back home to collect the amount. Lastly, since one of the transfers came in during the Christmas season, I bought my children new clothes worth $30 so that they would enjoy the festivities.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $6 of my recent transfer on buying two chickens. This has been my dream to have at least own one but I could not afford any at my own cost. I am now thankful and ambitious that in a few months to come I will have many of them which will enable me to achieve a lot. Additionally, I was able to save $15 for the merry-go-round chama. I believe that in six months to come I will have enough in my savings account and I will finally be granted a loan whereby I can purchase more assets that I have been longing to own. With the remaining $9, I bought foodstuffs for my family and other household needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has not done anything that is not good for our village. Ever since they visited us, our lives have changed positively because we can now at least afford a meal, own assets and able to send our children to school unlike before whereby a bigger percentage had dropped out due to the huge arrears.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My two children, who are in elementary school, were sent home due to school fee charges. Three weeks passed without them returning to school, causing them to lose a great deal in their schooling. My significant other, an easygoing worker, procures very little (350 every day) from his job. This sum isn't sufficient to take special care of the relative multitude of the family's necessities. When I received my most memorable first transfer, I paid KES 850 to get part free from the school charges for overdue debts that my kids owed the school. This empowered them to report back to school and continue with their education. Other than paying the unfulfilled obligations, I purchased food for the family since we had nothing left to eat. The circumstance was more terrible as we could never again purchase food on credit since we owed the retailers as well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My kids remaining at home was my most dreaded fear. They felt exceptionally awful while watching their friends go to class while they remained at home. I'm glad that the unconditional transfer had an immense effect on their lives by assisting me with paying for their school charge overdue debts.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was preparing to rest a couple of moments past 9 pm. I heard my telephone ring, and I got it to look at it. I was hypnotized to figure out that I had received my first transfer. My heart was overflowing with bliss, and for some time I couldn't resist the opportunity to grin as I gazed at the telephone. I called my significant other and shared the uplifting news, and we both turned out to be extremely blissful.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I do not have any source of income. I am a housewife who does not have anything but look after my husband's cattle. I entirely depend on my husband to take care of my needs. He cannot meet all our needs and sometimes I aspire to have new clothes or buy something luxurious for myself but due to financial constraits, it is impossible.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Sitting on the ground was something I was looking forward to when it will come to an end. I did not enjoy doing it, I had no choice but I knew it wouldn't last forever. This has now become a history. I was able to acquire four plastic chairs with little money which I have been saving in a Merry go round. Today I am a happy woman enjoying the comfort of my chairs.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted to start rearing goats so that I can have something of my own. I look after my husband's cattle but I am not happy with the fact that none is mine. I plan to use the monthly transfers to buy Three goats and as time goes by they will multiply because they reproduce very fast. I will be able to sell for my use and also meet the needs of my family.