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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is doing well by having a program that is not biased and has both old and young beneficiaries.This has enabled everyone in the village meet their own goals despite of the age and position in the family.On the other hand the consistency in receiving the cash transfer is my only problem because for instance I had planned to get the money every month and I also had a budget only to miss the transfers which was quite an inconvenience at that particular time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a motorbike rider and currently am living with my brother.My intentions since I got enrolled in the program is having my own house.I plan to build a 2 roomed house.I decided to save my recent transfer because I want to buy 26 pcs of ironsheets to start of my construction project.I am looking forward to the next transfer in hope of buying enough materials and begin the project.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was happy because I had received the transfer when I did not have money at all. I could therefore, buy food and clothing which I lacked.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I had planned to build a house and shared my vision with GiveDirectly officers when they visited my village. I'm currently living with my brother as I don't have a house. Hence, I plan to buy construction materials to start building. However, the biggest difference at the moment is, I have clothes, people at home were able to get food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had received a phone from GiveDirectly, therefore, I eventually received KES 1200. We did not have food at that time and I used KES 700 to buy food. We had not eaten the previous day. KES 500 went toward buying clothes as I also did not also have clothes
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would like to build a house for myself to be able to jumpstart my life. I'm currently living with my mother and sleeping in my brother's house. This condition makes it impossible to marry my fiance to whom I have been engaged for about six months. I have been meaning to finalize on everything but I still don't have somewhere to take her and means to take care of her. For that reason, I would also like to buy a motorcycle for taxi operations so that I can get a source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have been having a lot of back pains which are persistent and growing intense each day since 2012. This makes it hard for me to be happy most of the time, but I must confess it still feels really good to talk to my fiance on phone at least twice a day. That normally gives me hope for the future.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been depending on riding other people's motorcycle taxis whenever I chance upon one but it's getting hard to keep doing this. Currently we don't get enough customers because there are so many riders, but we still have to remit daily returns of 400 KES to a bike owner as per most agreements.
