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 ($431 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 am only focusing on expanding my business to a bigger store. Accomplishing this means that I will be able to pay school fees for my children once they join high school and collages and I will also be able to cater for other family needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is changing lives of people by giving them unconditional cash transfers and living them at liberty of choosing how to spend these transfers. By doing so, people have been able to make life changing decisions like starting small business, buying dairy cows, farming etc..
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before I was enrolled in the program, I used to be a casual worker and life was not easy especially supporting my four children and wife with the meager wages that I used to earn. When I was enrolled in the program I planned to actualize long time dream of starting a business. Since I spend the first transfer to start a selling second hand business, I spend all my second transfer to to add more stock to my business. I am happy that the business is doing well and I am able to support my family without much struggle.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my transfer, I can vividly recall that I was at home busy cleaning the compound when I suddenly heard my phone ringing. Upon checking I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and grateful to have received funds that I was positive that it would uplift my life. I then broke the news to my wife who was also delighted on hearing the good news. Lastly, we embarked on planning when we would cash out our funds. I am forever grateful for the support that gave us an opportunity for us to transform our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It was almost impossible to own a dairy cow due to our financial status. Whatever little that we earned from the farm was used in paying for our children's school fees and in meeting our basic needs. My daily life is different because I was able to purchase a cow with the unconditional cash that I got. Secondly, I am happy because we have enough foodstuffs in the house to last us for a while. I am contented and happy to have received the funds that transformed our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving money from GiveDirectly was the best gift that I had ever received. My wife and I depend on farming in earning an income. Together we are blessed with four children. I had started constructing a house for my family before but I was unable to complete it due to financial constraints. Therefore, upon receiving my initial transfer I saw it deem fit to complete the house renovation whereby I used KES 2600 to putting windows and KES 5600 on buying seats. I then used KES 24,000 on purchasing a dairy cow to cut down on the cost of buying milk daily. Lastly, I used the remaining amount on foodstuffs. I am relieved and a pot to have achieved a lot in a short period.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a jobless father of 4 .I lost my job as a security officer after the invasion of COVID pandemic last year. This affected my life plans because it happened suddenly.Am sad that I have been unable to complete the construction of the house due to limited capital .The coming in of GiveDirectly gives me hope and joy because I will be able to complete the house.This means that my family will all sleep under one roof unlike now whereby my children seek sleep from the neighborhood. Receiving this money therefore means better shelter and united family for me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the invasion of the pandemic I have been able to construct this new house from the KES 10000 I had from my last salary.This has given me joy in the past 6 months because I foresee a better shelter for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Early last year I lost my job as a security officer in Nairobi as a result of COVID pandemic.This has resulted in financial constraints in my family because I am unable to adequately feed nor provide better shelter for my family . Delays in doing farming activities such as digging and planting has also become a norm due to insufficient money. This therefore has lowered my self esteem as a father because I cannot perform my duties of taking care of the family well .
