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 ($490 USD)
access_time 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 it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have build a better house for my family. I do sell tea and snacks at the town Center. The amount of profit that I get from this business is so small and cannot meet all the basic household items and be in a position to save some amount. I was not in a position to build a better house for my family. We used to live in a small house which cannot host all the family comfortably. Whenever I have visitors I could feel so bad because there was no place to host them. I could talk with my mother to allow me host any visitor at her house. When I receive the transfer from GiveDirectly I was in a position to buy building materials and started building a better and spacious house for my family. I am so happy because I no longer feel stressed whenever I have visitors around. My children are also happy because the have a good place to sleep. We also have privacy now as a family because all our personal stuff are kept in the right place. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy food for their family. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend the money I received from GiveDirectly to buy two goats, a cupboard, sofa set seats and the rest of the money I used it to buy food and other household items.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was on a Thursday 21st when I received my first transfers from GiveDirectly. I was so happy because I knew that we are going to have a good house soon.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before we were living in a small grass touched house which was in bad condition. Now we have a good house which is more specious and am no longer worried where my visitors would spend thier night whenever we have some.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 35000 on purchasing ironsheets, building posts,nails and timber for constructing a house. I then spent another KES 8000 on paying for labor for the house construction. The remaining portion, I spent KES 2000 on buying uniform for my two children. The remaining amount I spent on buying some clothes and rice for consumption.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money would mean a decent house for us. The house we currently have is grass-thatched with a leaky roof. My children can hardly sleep on cold and rainy nights. When the COVID-19 pandemic struck in March of this year 2020, I had some savings which I was intending to use to build a house. I lost my job and we were forced to spend the savings to buy food. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for this help because we shall soon be living in a better shelter.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is the time we spend with my family after being away the whole day fending for them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The arrival of COVID-19 presented the biggest hardship and suffering of my life. I was feeling like the world is no longer habitable. We went without food and other necessities. It was the most difficult moment of my life.
