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 currently operating a spare parts and repair shop in my village, and my aim has always been to scale up and expand it. With the recent cash transfer, I spent almost $35 to buy more spare parts and grow my inventory. This investment has already made a noticeable difference, as the returns now are far better than before. The support from GiveDirectly has been a lifeline, allowing me to take care of my young family with much less struggle. Also, I used $20 to bolster my poultry farming by purchasing more chickens and feed. I am confident that as the chicks grow and multiply, I'll soon have a steady stream of customers, further improving our financial stability. Additionally, clearing my $25 debt to my neighbour was another significant relief. Being able to pay off this debt has given me peace of mind, freeing me from the constant worry that had weighed on me. Moreover, being able to provide a small solar panel for my siblings illuminated their nights, facilitating their studies with much-needed light. With the remaining funds, I have been able to consistently buy food for my family, ensuring that we have enough to last several days. The stability and peace these transfers have brought to our lives are immeasurable, and I am profoundly grateful. The future now looks much brighter, and I am optimistic about the continued growth of my business and the well-being of my family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My biggest dream right now is to grow my workshop into a wholesale business in the coming months. I believe this expansion will bring in significant returns and pave the way for a brighter future. As my sole source of income, this venture holds immense importance to me. Not only will it provide for my young family's needs with greater ease, but it will also allow me to plan for my children's future more effectively. I envision a time when financial worries are replaced by stability and security and where my kids have the opportunities they deserve. This dream fuels my determination, and I'm ready to put in the hard work to make it a reality.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am an animal rearer, to be specific chicken and I also have a small shop selling phone accessories. My efforts throughout this project has been to build up on that. In November I spent $14 to add to the phone accessories business while $10 went into my buying chicken. In December I added $19 to some money I had saved and added to the accessories business while in January $20 went into buying more chicken for my small chicken farm. I also used this cash to pay debts, I used $15 in December in Debt repayment. I also bought utensils in January I bought a thermos and food pot at $14. We make monthly contributions as a family to go towards food in November I made my contribution from my transfers of $10.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I remember being enrolled in the program and being informed that it would be for a period of time. I was sure I needed to invest in projects that would outrun the Givedirectly one. I decided to rear chicken and start a phone accessories shop. Now the business has grown and I have 58 chicken. My aim is to increase this chicken numbers even further so I can sell them and buy goats and in turn sell the goats and buy cows. I also want the shop to run on its own resources which I look forward to having achieved before the project ends.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have a phone repair business as well as started chicken farming. I have been using my transfers to build on this. I have added material for my work to the business using the transfers, in June I added spares worth $20, In July I spent $9 and $16 in August. I also was able to buy chicken in June and August, 2 chicken in June at $12 and in August three chicken at $18. I also paid school fees for my younger sibling in junior secondary school worth $25.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to start selling more electronics to the locals since many have expressed interests in goods that I do not stick such as non- digital phones, torches, radios as well as phone accessories. I hope to use this as an avenue to earn more income for my business as well as explore an expansion to ensure that people do not have to travel far to access the things they may need.
9th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I run an electronic business that has been doing well. However, I did not have adequate stock when I received my recent transfer. Immediately after I got my most recent transfer, I spent $20 to boost the business by acquiring a few items I did not have. I am glad that it is currently doing pretty well. As a result, the proceeds from the business have slightly increased. Since we are a large family of nine people, we did not have adequate food then. I also opted to spend $t14 to acquire more food for the family. I am glad that by pooling our cash together, we obtained food that can last us for about two weeks.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My primary ambition is to obtain a plot of land to build my home. I still live in my father's compound, but I believe it would be more peaceful for us to be in a home where we could operate some of the family initiatives more smoothly. With the help of the monthly transfers, I hope to save a portion of my other transfers and business revenues to purchase a plot. I am hoping to complete this aspiration by the end of the year because I have saved up some money for it. Getting my parcel will be the most meaningful accomplishment I have ever had in life.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before I started getting money from Give Directly, managing my phone repair and accessory business was frequently a huge challenge. I lost clients because I was unable to meet their demand for distinctive and special phone gadgets and accessories. My business was my only source of income, and I had no way to raise money to buy more stock. My business has greatly benefited from the transfer of funds because it now allows me to purchase more accessories, which are difficult to find and are highly desired by my customers. My business has experienced a surge in customers as a result of the transfers, which has increased my profit margins by over 50%. The money has greatly aided me in paying rent and maintaining the viability of the business during times when the business is not performing well and I am unable to do so. I am extremely appreciative of the assistance I am getting to lift my life out of the grasp of poverty.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a businessman who sells electronic products. I spent $25 on new products after receiving my most recent transfer. Even though the economy is incredibly hard, I have been able to make a profit of $5 to $20 per day as a result of the boost in business. As a result, I have been able to adequately support our family of nine by helping to buy food and pay school fees for some of my siblings. The remainder of the transfer, $5, assisted me in purchasing food for our family. I am overjoyed because it has significantly improved my business performance, allowing me to give adequate support to my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectrly is a good NGO that has perfected its way of operation to enhance efficiency. It emphasizes helping the neediest people in society. As a result, many people enrolled in the program receive financial help monthly. In addition, it does well in raising awareness among all potential recipients through sensitization during the initial stages. None is coerced to participate in the program. So far, there is nothing that GiveDirecrly does not do well. I only suggest that it expands its operation by considering those who were not at home during the enrolment stages.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My job is to repair faulty electronic appliances such as mobile phones, television screens, and iron boxes. During the election period, it affected negatively my business because I could not buy new stock. The whole seller withheld the goods because of the tension caused by the elections. I lost customers because I could not repair their appliances. This affected my income, and it forced me to spend a portion of the capital to buy food and pay other bills. When I received my transfer, I spent it all on buying some new stock for my business. I was worried that I was going to close and become jobless. The business finally picking up and I hope I can win back the customers I lost before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has helped save my business from collapsing by enabling me to buy new stock. This is an enormous difference that has happened in my life and I am so grateful. I am looking forward to receiving the next transfer and investing it wisely and living a good life out of poverty.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was chatting with my friend about the just concluded elections at 7 pm as I prepared to close the shop and go home. In the middle of the conversation, I received a text message confirming that I had received some money. I was confused and thought the person had sent it by mistake. A few minutes later, my friend received his transfer too and showed me the message. At that moment, it clicked in my mind that the money I had received was my first transfer. I was thrilled and together with my friend, we rejoiced as we walked back home.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Depending on casual jobs in the village is one of the easiest ways to slip into depression. They are not forthcoming. My parents are struggling to feed us and at school fees for my siblings. The least I can do is help them with some of the bills but most times I just cannot find work.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Through the struggles, we still support each other the best way we can. I love the harmony that we share as a family and I would not trade that for anything.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Through casual jobs, I started constructing a house for myself so that we can stop squeezing into a small space with my brothers. I have put the project on hold due to a lack of funds. Once I start receiving transfers, I have thought of taking a loan of KES 30,000 that will help me complete my house and then use this aid to pay it off slowly. It looks viable and I am willing to take the risk.