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
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time over 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 had never received the transfer in that my child was able to get proper medication after breaking his leg. The transfer helped me a lot since I didn't have money. I was able to pay school fees for my children. Furthermore, I am now sleeping in comfortable beddings unlike before where I use to sleep with old sacks.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly does well for sending us cash transfer which has to develop us in many ways. I was able to get proper medical care for my child who broke his legs. I spent almost $300 on her medical bills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my second transfer to purchase a bicycle for $150. This is because during the drought season It will assist me in fetching water for my family. Back in the days, I would walk for a long distance up to 20km in order to get water for my family. With the help of the bicycle I will spent less time to get water. I also, used $ 50 to hire an oxen to assist me in the preparation of my firm. Furthermore, I spend the remaining amount to pay school fees and purchased enough food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at the farm working when I first heard a message notification in my phone. I checked the message and I was very happy to see the transfers. I immediately called my husband who asked me to wait for him in the evening, so that we could plan together and withdraw the money together.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I can now have a bigger and more spacious house and I can also sleep on a comfortable bed and mattress.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to buy iron sheets that will enable us to build a new house, and to purchase a bed and mattress. I live with my husband and our three children in a one-roomed house. I sell charcoal while my husband works at construction sites as a casual laborer. What we make is quite little to enable us to build a house. I was very happy when I received the transfers as we could now own a bigger and more spacious house. I have also been sleeping on a mat as I had no bed or mattress. I bought a bed and a mattress I can now sleep comfortably.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband is the sole provider for this family yet he is just a casual labourer. The burden is so huge that he cannot meet our needs fully. This makes it difficult to raise as little as 1200 shillings for my children school fees in a year. My ambition is to make sure my children get educated enough to be able to secure jobs in the formal sector. I will therefore use this transfer to purchase livestock for rearing so as to finance their education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. I am always fully of energy during this time. This motivates me to face my daily activities no matter how tiresome they are.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a stable source of income is my biggest hardship. I burn charcoal to supplement our income but the much I earn is 500 shillings a month. This is because the area is quite deforested and I have to uproot trumps which is labour intensive. This situation has resulted to us being unable to provide for the family comfortably.
