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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($335 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Till a piece of land and fence the farm. I hope to be able to raise enough money to be able to do this. The cost of living is so high and getting things done can be sometime tough.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am happy for the cash they provided since it enable us to make decisions on our own
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Used all the money to build a new house. The house that we were staying in was so small and I decided to build a new house for myself. I am happy that the house is now completed.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($295 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My primary objective is to secure my land by installing a fence, allowing me to cultivate it without the constant threat of destruction by goats. This has been a longstanding challenge due to financial constraints, as I rely on my brother for financial support. I plan to use my third transfer to finally realize this goal, enhancing the productivity of my land and providing a more stable source of livelihood.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The unrestricted transfer allowed me to prioritize addressing my immediate need, which was building a house. The flexibility of using the funds without specific instructions was immensely helpful. The positive effects of this assistance extended beyond just immediate relief, as I was also able to secure enough food for myself. Our gratitude for the positive changes brought about by this support is profound. Thus far, I haven't identified any areas that require correction.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Due to my advanced age, I am no longer able to engage in work, relying on my brother and nephews for sustenance. I found myself residing in a dwelling resembling a goat pen, lacking the means to improve it. This predicament arose when my brother took possession of our family house, leaving me without a place to call home. In desperate need of shelter, I sought refuge in a cold and exposed environment, enduring the rain that swept through the inadequate structure. Utilizing my second transfer, I invested $353 in constructing a proper house, ensuring a more secure and comfortable living space. Additionally, I allocated $39 to stock the house with essential food items, purchased a bed for $32, and set aside $25 for daily expenses. Living alone, my wife and children reside in a neighboring town.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($124 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I have a distinct memory of being at home, enjoying a moment of relaxation, when my son approached me with some incredible news. He joyfully informed me that the promised transfer from GiveDirectly had finally arrived. This news was like a ray of sunshine, filling me with an overwhelming sense of joy and gratitude. My excitement was impossible to contain, as I knew that this transfer marked the beginning of my long-held dream to build a decent house for myself. The arrival of the funds brought immense happiness into our lives, and we will forever hold a profound sense of gratitude in our hearts.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I can now glimpse a glimmer of hope on the horizon. In an astonishingly brief span of time, my daily life has undergone a profound transformation. I managed to procure building materials swiftly, laying the groundwork for my dream of constructing a decent house. The transfer I received played a major role in this endeavor, allowing me to effortlessly stock up on enough foodstuffs to ensure I would no longer go to bed hungry. Words cannot adequately convey the depth of my gratitude for the support that has significantly improved our quality of life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Due to my advanced age, I no longer possess the physical energy to engage in farming or casual labour. Consequently, I rely on my children for sustenance, and I share my home with my three grandchildren. Upon receiving my initial transfer, I made the decision to allocate the funds towards purchasing building materials for the construction of a more decent house. The previous dwelling was aged, and I lacked the financial means to construct a new one. I allocated $96 of the transfer towards acquiring the necessary building materials, and the remaining amount was used to secure essential food supplies and purchase clothing. I am overjoyed that, at long last, I was able to achieve so much with the assistance of these funds, turning a cherished dream into reality.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I live in a house that is dilapidated with no walls, it is a structure that is used to keep goats belonging to my younger brother, I requested him to allow me to live in it and in return to take care of his goats. I did not have anywhere to live and so I was forced to live in this squalid condition. It is not conducive to sleep as the goats make noise during the night. I used to have a mud-walled house before but it grumbled down because the termites destroyed it, I moved to another house that initially belonged to our deceased parents and which our last-born son had inherited but had been away, he came in recently and displaced me and that is how I ended up on the goat's shelter. Nothing beats the joy when I heard about GiveDirectly transfers, the joy I have is out of this world, my worry of ever owning a decent house will be a thing of the past, I intend to use the transfers to build an iron-walled and roofed house worth $ 500 and use the rest of the money to purchase foodstuffs and clothing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It gives me joy whenever it rains, especially at the onset of long rains. Things always get better because casual jobs increase and so it means during those times I can feed myself without much struggle since farm jobs are usually in plenty as opposed to during the dry season. In the last 2 months in May, we started receiving some rainfall and I was able to get many jobs, there is no day I went to bed on an empty stomach.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been afflicted with a hard life of unending and painful suffering of misery and destitution. I struggle to make a living here, I am lonely. My wife left me and went back to her parents because of the state of poverty that I was in, I could not provide for her and our two children and I had not paid the dowry. Putting food on the table is a tall order for me I have to look for casual jobs to earn wages so that I can buy food. Sometimes when I fail to get the job it means I go to bed hungry since I live from hand to mouth.
