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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for their support, which has been instrumental in helping me establish a successful chicken rearing project. This venture has been a valuable source of income and sustenance for my family. To ensure the continued health and growth of my chickens, I allocated $34 from the transfers to purchase high-quality feed and necessary medicines. Education is another top priority for me, as I firmly believe it is the key to a brighter future for my children. With this in mind, I spent $34 to cover the school fees for my child who is currently enrolled in secondary school. This investment will help secure her education and prevent any disruptions to her studies. Unfortunately, my wife recently fell ill and is currently hospitalized, awaiting surgery. To cover her medical expenses, I allocated $30 from the transfers, adding it to the funds we had already set aside. I am hopeful that with proper treatment, she will make a full recovery and return home to our family.
Finally, I used the remaining $4 to purchase additional food for my household, supplementing what we already had. This small but crucial investment ensures that my family has access to the nourishment they need during this challenging time.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The transfers I received have enabled me to establish a successful chicken rearing business, which has been a profitable venture. I am now focused on expanding both my chicken operation and my wife's kiosk using these funds and use the revenue to support my family. Looking ahead, I plan to strategically trade some of my chicken for goats. I am confident that the goats will multiply and increase in number over time. Eventually, I intend to trade the goats for cows, as they too will multiply and grow in value. As a farmer and a driver, I have always dreamed of owning a vehicle and starting a transport business. By rearing cows and selling them when they have multiplied and increased in number, I aim to generate the funds needed to purchase a vehicle. At that point, I will carefully consider which type of vehicle would be most suitable for my transport business, given my experience as a driver. By leveraging my existing skills and knowledge as a farmer and driver, while also exploring new opportunities in the transport sector, I am confident that I can build a sustainable and prosperous future for myself and my family.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Working as a driver on the Mombasa-Voi routes, I work hard to support my family of six. Life was incredibly challenging, especially during the Covid period, when my ability to provide for my family was severely limited. Fortunately, this organization provided crucial assistance at a very critical time in my life. With their support, I have been able to establish a successful video shop business, which is now generating additional income for my family. Also, I have ventured into poultry farming, and I am happy to report that I now own over one hundred chickens which I plan to sell once they are fully grown. With the transfers received, I used $34 to buy chicken feed and medication to ensure the well-being of my poultry. Additionally, when my wife fell ill and required medical attention for a growth in her stomach, I directed $34 towards her tests and treatment. The remaining funds were used to purchase books and other essentials for my child during the half-term break. I am genuinely grateful for the transformative impact this project has had on my life.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This year, my focus is on establishing a shop in my village, offering essential items such as sugar, flour, oil, and other necessities. Recognizing the potential profitability of this venture, I am determined to manage it efficiently. To fund this initiative, I plan to utilize both my upcoming transfers and the profits generated from my video shop. This new business venture holds the promise of providing additional income for my family, and I am filled with joy at the prospect of improving our quality of life through this opportunity.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been a professional driver for 43 years, supporting my family through this career. Throughout my life, I've encountered various challenges, and I'm proud to express my gratitude for the invaluable financial assistance provided by GiveDirectly. What brings me immense joy is that, thanks to these transfers, I've successfully launched a thriving chicken business. At present, I'm rearing over 150 free-range indigenous chickens, which I plan to sell to meet my family's needs. I am now in a position to comfortably cover the school fees for three secondary school children, two of whom were orphaned when my siblings passed away, leaving me responsible for their well-being. I allocated $47 towards settling a pending school fee debt for the children and wisely used the remaining $55 to purchase essential chicken feed and medication. This proved vital in safeguarding my flock from a severe infestation of bugs that posed a grave threat. All in all, GiveDirectly has significantly improved my quality of life, raising my living standards.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My top priority is to venture into the rearing of egg-laying chickens, a step I believe will enhance my income and boost the stability of my business. Additionally, I aspire to construct a larger shed to house these chickens, ensuring they have ample space. I intend to utilize future transfers from GiveDirectly to realize these goals. I take great pride in reflecting on the progress I have made, all made possible through GiveDirectly's support. It has truly been a life-changing journey.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Givedirectly has brought such a big change to me and my family. I am a bus driver and my wife was a stay at home mother until she received transfers and opend her business. I am no longer the only breadwinner and that has made life easier for us. I started a chicken project which we also hope it provides an alternative income. I have been using my transfers to buy a bag of chicken feed which goes for $15. I bought the chicken feed in May and April but also bought the chicken medicine to ensure their good health at $4 in March and April. I also sent $30 to school for my child with $120 from savings to cover the $150 fee balance they had. I also bought food for the family, in may I spent $19, and in April I spent $15.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This chicken project is the big picture project for me. I own over 70 chicken and these are in good health due to the way we feed them and make sure they have medicine whenever need arises. I do not want to start on another project before this actually starts to bring in a profit. My aim is to continue investing in this chicken business until it can stand on its own then maybe do other things after. I want the earnings to help me take care of my children in terms of food and education. My wife's business is also doing well and I hope it grows furteher.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a father of six children, two of whom are in high school: Mariam and Jane. They are respectively in form three and form one. Even though my business provides a consistent source of income, my family needs have increased, making it difficult for me to save enough money for my children's tuition. So, when I recently received my transfer, I used $34 and added to it my other funds to cover their tuition. There were $150 in arrears, so I had to top up with some money from my savings. My wife has a roadside food kiosk, so we do not have to struggle much to support our eight-member family. I was able to expand my poultry farming using transfers from the previous three months, and right now I have roughly 76 chicks. I express my sincere gratitude to GiveDirectly.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I still believe there is much to be done to improve my poultry farming, even though it appears to be performing well. So long as I keep getting my monthly transfers, my main objective is to concentrate on growing my poultry farming. I aim to raise additional fowls, which I will then sell to acquire goats. The fact that we have come this far has encouraged me since I never thought I could get do poultry farming. I also aim to start a shop business and raise money from it as well. Giving my family financial support for their education and nutrition needs will not be a burden anymore with a shop and other streams of income.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly uplifted the lives of many people in my community financially, People were able to accomplish their goals, and thus we are grateful. In my opinion, I did not witness things that needed to be worked on because they did everything professionally.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
School fees have been a major priority and at the top of my worries. I am a driver, married and blessed with six children. Upon receiving my transfer, I used $20 on paying school fees and then used the remaining $10 on buying foodstuffs. I feel so happy and relieved knowing that I can be reducing the school fees arrears of my children every month. I am so grateful for the support that has lifted our living standards amazingly and for giving us hope for a better and brighter future for our children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought 7 chickens for rearing with the whole of the first transfer. This was in my plan and by the time I received the first transfer I had already constructed a poultry house. They have ready markets and do not require much capital hence I am hoping to make good profits from them in the future. I run a small business in the nearby market but the income can not sustain my family of 7. Therefore, the income from the poultry will be a boost to my household income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have a small business in the nearby market center while my spouse sells cooked food in the streets. We have five children who are all in school and the income we earn is not enough to sustain all our needs. Chicken rearing has been my dream project since they reproduce faster and their demands are high too. I am glad I was able to purchase seven chickens for rearing with the first transfer. This is the biggest difference in my daily life because I am hopeful that the income from them will be a boost to our household income and thus we shall be able to provide adequately for my family's needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very excited when I first received the transfer, as it brought hope of accomplishing the goal of starting up the poultry rearing project. I was in a shopping center, running my business as usual when I received it. I did not share the news with anyone immediately but when later shared it with my family when I got home. They were equally happy and thanked GiveDirectly for the support.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I work as a driver and this has been the main source of income for my family. Unfortunately, the corona pandemic affected my work since I was retrenched. This forced me to stay at home and I am currently doing part-time work in Mariakani which is also not consistent. My daily income has been low, usually 800 KES which can not fully cater to our needs something that has stressed me a lot. I, therefore, consider the lack of a stable source of income as my greatest challenge.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the many challenges that I am going through in my life, I am so grateful to God for the miracles I have currently experienced. At the beginning of this term, I had no school fees for my son. Fortunately, I agreed with the principal to allow him to continue with his studies as I prepare to make the payment. This has brought more joy to my life because I have had peaceful nights.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My greatest ambition is to start a shop business to have a reliable source of income for my family. Currently, I find an opportunity to serve the nearest secondary school but there is no single shop around. Receiving this money will help me to buy the building materials which cost 3000 KES per trip. After 1 year, I am so sure that the working room will be ready and the other transfers will help me to start buying the stock. This will provide an opportunity for my wife to work and earn a living, a transformation that I have wished for a long time.