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 ($467 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have an additional goal that I did not have before receiving the transfer but to boost my current business. I have a retail shop which I opened up with part of the second transfer where I mainly sell foodstuffs, detergent, and other personal care products. The business is doing well but it is not profitable enough to meet all my household needs. I, therefore, have an additional goal to sell second-hand clothes alongside the retail shop. From the experience I have seen with my friends, it is more profitable. I believe with the additional income from second-hand clothes, I will be able to comfortably meet my household's needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly did well, especially by coming up with the idea of sensitizing the community about their project before they could enroll people. Such meetings enabled us to learn more and even dispel the rumors people had about Give Directly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Previously, I did not have any source of income. Instead, I could work on people's farms for pay and be paid KES 200 at the end of the day only for the days worked. The KES 200 was not enough to meet all of my household's needs. I, therefore, spent KES 20000 on a retail shop. I appreciate it because I make more from the business and through it, I do not struggle to meet my household needs. There is no more engaging in hard chores in order to feed my family. At least I now feel more healthy and relaxed. KES 23000 I used to both construct a poultry house and purchase chicks for rearing. I am hopeful that once they are fully grown for sale then I will be able to earn a good income which will boost me in meeting my household needs. Since we did not have enough foodstuffs, I bought three bags of corn at KES 10000. This will be able to push us for some months.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the transfers around 9am while washing dishes when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. Upon checking, it was the eagerly awaited GiveDirectly transfers I was overwhelmed with joy and could hardly eat that day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is availability of adequate food, milk and clothing for my family. I can confidently attest that my kids have grown healthier, happier and cleaner since I received the transfers and I am very grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my recent transfer on a dairy cow as a source of milk for my family.This is because initially I didn't have one and used to rely on casual labor in order to buy a cup of milk.The rest was spent on food, Ironsheets and clothing.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I separated from my husband 3 years ago and had to move in with my parents together with my two children. The house that we were in was small and had to build my house from the savings that I had so that we could give my parents space. Receiving this money will mean that I will be able to buy a piece of land for myself and build my own house. I do not have a cow and I spend KES 1000 monthly on buying milk and so I plan to buy one with the money that I will get to cut the cost of buying milk.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I managed to build a house this year and moved in 8 months ago. Building a house for my family and starting life again has brought me peace and happiness because I do not have so much to worry about.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am currently facing is financial constraints. I do menial jobs, a quarry nearby, and get paid depending on the job that I have done. The pay is not steady and sometimes there is no job. The little amount that I get cannot enable me to feed my family and save some.
