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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming year and beyond, I am eager to plaster the interior of my house to enhance its durability and appearance. I have already obtained the necessary plastering materials for this phase of the project. Once I finish the interior, I will take a brief break to save up again for the next phase of plastering. This renovation will strengthen the long-term stability of my house and elevate its attractive. After completing this task, my intention is to venture into livestock farming. At present, my primary focus is on nurturing my five goats, which play a pivotal role in my future endeavors. Regrettably, I experienced significant losses due to disease in my chicken flock previously. My immediate aim is to ensure the multiplication of my goats, creating a reliable source of income through sales when necessary. Concurrently, I am in the process of constructing my envisioned brick house. Once this construction is finished, it will facilitate the expansion of my livestock investment, particularly in goats. This carefully planned approach ensures that once my house is completed, I can seamlessly transition to expanding my goat farming endeavors without encountering unnecessary obstacles.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I live in a four-room house with my five children. Unfortunately, the house is not properly plastered, and I would really like to plaster it. I don't have a job, so we rely on livestock keeping and small-scale farming to support our family. Because of this, I haven't been able to afford to plaster the house. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support, which has allowed me to consider plastering my house. I plan to start by plastering the interior of the house, and once that is done, I will save up to buy the necessary bags of cement to plaster the exterior. With the recent financial assistance, I was able to spend $102 to buy 15 bags of cement for the plastering work. I am happy that soon the plastering work will begin, and I have also set aside some income to pay for labor.
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently focused on caring for my five goats, as they represent a crucial part of my future plans. Unfortunately, I lost many chickens to disease previously. My immediate goal is to ensure my goats multiply, providing a stable source of income through sales when needed. Currently, I am in the process of building my dream brick house. Once completed, this accomplishment will pave the way for easier investment in livestock, particularly goats. This strategic approach ensures that after completing my house, I can concentrate on expanding my goat farming without facing unnecessary challenges.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a mother of five children, I am focused on improving our living conditions by building a new, house for my family. Previously, we lived in a mud house that wasn't adequate for our needs. Now, I am constructing a solid block house that will provide better shelter for my family. Each month, I ensure that I diligently allocate transfers towards this project. I purchase two metal sheets for $60 and invest $30 in purchasing building materials such as sticks for construction. Additionally, I set aside $12 to pay the house constructors, ensuring progress continues steadily. Every step forward brings me closer to realizing my dream of completing our new home.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having spent my entire life living in a mud-walled, grass-thatched house, my biggest dream has been to upgrade it to a modern stone-walled one. As I look ahead to the coming year, my main goal is to fully complete the renovation of my home. To realize this dream, I am committed to utilizing both my transfers and my husband's income. For me, accomplishing this goal represents a lasting legacy, going beyond the conclusion of the project. I am deeply grateful and filled with immense happiness for the changes that have happened in my life, all thanks to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Life hasn't always been smooth for my family of six, as we have faced struggles to make ends meet. While my husband works as an electrician, I raise livestock to earn a living and this has not always been sufficient to sustain us. However, the intervention of Give Directly has brought about a profound transformation in our lives. With the financial assistance provided, I was able to invest in a goat, which has since multiplied, significantly improving our financial stability. Moreover, these transfers have enabled me to upgrade our living conditions and ensure a comfortable education for our children. Determined to improve our living situation, I utilized the transfers to upgrade our traditional mud-thatched house, allocating $90 for building materials. Collaborating with my husband, we pooled our resources to renovate a section of our home. Additionally, $12 went towards paying our children's school fees, guaranteeing their uninterrupted education. The impact of this project fills me with immense happiness and gratitude, as it has brought about unimaginable changes in my life.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At present, I am tending to a small yet growing livestock-six goats and four chickens. My vision extends beyond just their care; I aim to expand my investment by acquiring more animals. This strategy not only presents an opportunity for growth but also serves as a safety net; should challenges arise, the option to sell and generate funds stands readily available.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a devoted mother of five wonderful children, I eagerly seized the opportunity to embark on a transformative journey. My goal was clear: to construct a spacious house that could accommodate our family of seven. With my transfers in hand, I invested $34 to purchase three essential metal sheets, laying the initial foundation for what would become an ambitious and rewarding project. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for everything.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to finish building our three-roomed house. Afterward, I intend to start my own small business selling foodstuff. I hope to be able to support my husband to cater to our basic needs as currently, he is the sole breadwinner of the family since I do not have a job.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The current house that we stay in with my four children is quite small and not in a good condition to accommodate us all comfortably. Since I was enrolled in Givedirectly I have been using most of my transfers to gather materials to build a bigger house. By the time I received my January transfer, I channeled it all to the house construction. We pulled efforts with my husband to see that we kick off this project. I am grateful that the monthly transfers have been of help to my family.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently looking after my 12 cattle as I have no job at the moment. With the transfers I get, I believe I will be able to save enough money to start my own kiosk where I can sell things like flour, oil, milk and among other things. The reason why I want to start this kiosk is to make it easy for my neighbors to have an easy time in terms of the long distance they usually cover when going to get something from the shop. It will also keep me busy and earn me a source of income that will benefit my family in general.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We live in a three bedroom, sand built house that we had constructed way before we had enough money. The moment I received my transfer of $34, we sat down with my spouse and decided that we would all contribute to building our house. He did not meet the criteria to be chosen as one of the recipients of transfers, but he works hard to make sure that we save the money we agreed to. We intend to construct a rock house, and by April this year, we hope to have started and ensure that the project is complete.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to invest in the projects of their choice. The majority have invested in livestock-keeping projects. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent all the transfer that I received on purchasing iron sheets. I supported my spouse in the construction of the new semi-permanent house. The construction had stopped at some point due to a lack of money to purchase the building materials. We live in a small mud wall house and this cannot host us comfortably. I want to have a decent and spacious house where we can live well accommodated. The construction is ongoing and I will use the next transfer for the purchase of the materials. I am so grateful because were it not GiveDirectly all this could have been stopped.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I found out about the transfer, I burst out laughing because I was delighted. I had reached the point where I was willing to put a temporary halt to the ongoing construction. I was financially drained despite competing needs such as paying school fees to keep my children in school. As a result, receiving the transfer restored hope that everything is possible and that I can always get away out and work on my projects. I am immensely thankful to GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Indeed having spent a relatively large sum of money on the skeleton construction of my permanent house, I felt drained financially. I had to bear with the situation though I was occasionally distressed to learn that I could not easily offset school fee arrears for my children. However, from the time I received my transfer, I have experienced relief from financial-related stress. This has therefore marked the biggest difference in my life from when I received the first batch of my transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Currently, I have begun building a permanent house. Although the construction is ongoing, it has been on bits since I cannot raise all the cash at once. Immediately after I received my transfer, I used KES 2000 to buy a single iron sheet. I shall buy additional iron sheets for its roofing. I am so glad that from the transfer, I was able to get relief and I know through continuous support, it will be so easy for me to execute that goal. In addition, I spent KES 1,000 on paying school fees for my four children in primary school because I had received a note from the school reminding me to pay off fee arrears.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I see the completion of my four-bedroom house. I began building it more than three years ago and along the way, I got stuck. I could not buy the needed materials let alone pay the workers. I can not wait to receive this money, with each transfer I will buy the needed equipment (wood, iron sheet, nails, windows, cement) once I can resume operations this money will still facilitate payment for the workers. This is my only desire.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In February, I reaped plenty of what I had been working for for the past three years. I came back home from Mombasa and left-back my husband to focus on livestock raising. I started with a goat and soon they gave birth, when I had about 10 goats I exchanged them for two cows and I diligently raised them. At the beginning of this year (February) I sold the two cows for 60000 KES and I was able to buy piles of stones for my four-roomed house. I got stuck in my building project three years ago and I was overjoyed when I was able to make this step.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I raise livestock and my husband is a casual worker in Mombasa, he is into construction and wiring. His type of work is inconsistent and as a result, he can not send money back home frequently. We are at times forced to go without food at least twice a week and with four children to feed, I can only afford to prepare porridge for them when there is no food. I know lack is a usual thing but it is a concern when it comes to food and you have children.