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 ($520 USD)
access_time over 5 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 in that I was already planning to sell a piece of land in order to pay my children's school fees. I had tried all means of getting the money that would enable me to pay my children's school fees but in vain. So the idea of selling a piece of my land came in. But just in time, Give Directly came in and I was able to save my land. I am also a proud owner of an Ironed roofed house for the first time! Owning such a house was only a dream for me and I am happy that Give Directly made it a possibility.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I loved that every household in my village received the transfer without any discrimination. I also loved that it was fair and all the information was given to us. I am also happy that the transfer cam straight to our phones rather than through third parties.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a big percentage of the second transfer received to build a new house. Initially, I lived in a grass thatched house which was already getting old. I also bought some household items and other necessities such as clothes with the rest of the transfer.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
For so long, my children have been sleeping at my neighbors house and this has always left me an unhappy person and always feeling that I am not a responsible parent. I thank God since all this is in the past now. Owning a house is my greatest achievement so far which has changed my daily life from one full of worries to a happier one as I know that my children are always safe for they no longer walk at night.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I received a message indicating that I had received the money which GiveDirectly had promised us, I was filled with happiness. At that instant, I started singing some songs in my native language as my happiness knew no bounds until my children started wondering what was wrong with me as I was with them at that moment and they were not used to seeing me sing. I then shared with them the good news and they were all filled with happiness.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
It has always been my prayer to build a bigger house for my family since the one we were living in is a one-room house which acts as a kitchen, living and sitting room. Due to this, I had to ask one of my neighbors to allow my children to be sleeping at their house since they had a bigger one which he gladly agreed. Though my children never complained, I was not comfortable with the idea since I knew that their security is not good especially at night when they are going to sleep. When I received my first transfers, I spent part of in building a bigger house for my family. Since it was the planting season and I had not even prepared my land, I spent part of the remaining amount in buying maize seeds, fertilizers and in tilling my land. For so long, I have been buying maize flour and this is expensive and sometimes my family is forced to go for a day without taking their meals when I do not have money. For this reason, I spent the remaining amount to purchase five sacks of maize so that it would last us for some time.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
After my wife and I divorced in 2012, my first born son came back to stay with me. He is so close to me and receiving this money means I am in a position to secure him a better future as far as his academic and social status is concerned. I am planning to build a more decent house for us since he is now grown. He is in standard 7 and will soon be joining secondary school. Consequently, I must make an investment in dairy farming so as to take him through tertiary level of education in a few years. I am striving to make ends meet since after he is successful, he is going to fend for me and his siblings later in life. I am optimistic about achieving this dream thanks to Give Directly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. Coming home after accomplishing the day's tasks makes me relieved. I am a single parent and after preparing my son for school in the morning, I go out to find casual jobs to do so as to put food on the table at the end of the day. Achieving this at the end of it brings a sense of fulfilment.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is having to lose a child. My second born child was diagnosed with a liver disease in 2006 at about two years of age. He succumbed after being admitted for two months at the Tenwek Hospital. The hospital bill was immense, I didn't advance much in education therefore I wasn't employed and I could not raise money for his treatment. I was confronted by the guilt that I had the power to save his life if only I had money.
The situation was so grave that I resolved to selling a piece of land. The help from Give Directly is going to put me in a better position to prepare for any future uncertainties.
