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?
This year, my focus is to venture into goat rearing. It's a lucrative venture because goats require minimal maintenance and yield high profits. I plan to use my upcoming transfers to invest in this endeavor. Once I have accumulated many goats, I will be in a position to exchange them for a cow, which will help boost my herd. I am sincerely thankful for the assistance provided by this organization, as it has greatly contributed to my achievements. Their support has allowed me to pursue this new venture and improve my family's livelihood. I look forward to the future with optimism, knowing that I can continue to grow and succeed with their help.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My wife and I are engaged in subsistence farming, which has been able to sustain our family of eight. Previously, we struggled to make ends meet, and the famine in our village made everything worse since we had no money to buy food. Educating our children was also an uphill task, but I am happy that circumstances changed once GiveDirectly came to our village. We can now till our land, educate our children, and buy food without much strain. I have also been able to cater to medical expenses for my daughter, who has been ailing for a while, and I am deeply grateful for that. With the transfers I received, I used $34 to buy two chickens and a turkey that I intend to keep and sell later on. I then spent another $58 to cover medical costs for my daughter who fell ill, and I am happy to report that she is doing much better. The remaining amount was spent on buying food for my family as we had ran out of supplies. Being a recipient of these transfers brings me great joy, as I have been able to accomplish goals that would not have been possible without this assistance. GiveDirectly has been a source of hope for my family and my community, and I am deeply grateful for that.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have an unfinished rental house that I aim to complete this year. Once finished, I plan to rent it out to students. To accomplish this goal, I plan to utilize the transfers I receive every month. The additional income generated from the rent will significantly improve the stability of my family's finances giving me a lot of relief. I'm sincerely thankful for the assistance provided by this organization, as it has greatly contributed to my achievements.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I support my family of eight by farming and raising livestock, which has been our main source of income. Previously, we relied on digging out tree stumps and casual labor jobs, but this barely sustained us. However, life has taken a positive turn since then. I decided to invest in goats, and I'm pleased to say that I now have a total of four. Additionally, I started a small business selling sardines and fish to my neighbors, further improving our financial situation. The assistance from GiveDirectly has made a significant impact on our lives. With the transfers received, I allocated $34 towards purchasing food for my family during the Christmas holidays. Another $34 went towards paying school fees for my grandchildren, who had just started a new term. Unfortunately, I faced a health challenge when I was diagnosed with a hernia that required urgent treatment and medication. Therefore, I used the remaining $34 for my medical expenses. Despite this setback, I am grateful for the support and am pleased to report that I am recovering well. GiveDirectly has truly been a blessing for me and my family.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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?
Previously, I operated a poultry business that involved ducks, chickens, and guinea fowls. Regrettably, my entire flock was eliminated by a combination of prolonged drought and a coccidiosis outbreak, compelling me to close down the business. My objective now is to revive this venture, implementing improved measures to prevent the recurrence of the disease. I plan to utilize forthcoming transfers to realize this goal, anticipating that the expansion of my poultry business will contribute to increased income streams and greater financial stability. I am sincerely grateful to GiveDirectly for significantly elevating my living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My livelihood is primarily dependent on farming, but the profitability of this venture has been hampered by the persistent lack of rainfall in my region. The scarcity of funds has posed challenges in accessing essential resources such as food and water. Gratefully, the support from GiveDirectly transfers has alleviated these concerns, ensuring a stable food supply for my family. This assistance has also enabled me to send my children to school without the constant worry of them being turned away due to unpaid fees. To address a lingering school debt, I allocated $34 from the transfers towards settling my children's school fees. Additionally, I invested in a sustainable source of income by purchasing goats with the intention of raising and eventually selling them for profit. Prioritizing the urgent needs of my household, I utilized another $34 to acquire rafters and poles for the much-needed repair of my dilapidated house. The remaining funds were dedicated to farming and land cultivation, taking advantage of the significant rainfall to grow essential crops. I express my gratitude to GiveDirectly for facilitating these positive transformations in my life.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My main goal is to complete the renovations on my house. I am now residing in an unfinished house that is quite hazardous to live in. I'd also like to buy goats to grow for profit. This will, I believe, improve my financial situation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I don't have a steady source of income because I lost all of my livestock owing to the prolonged drought in my village. I was completely dependent on livestock and sold milk to my neighbors to make ends meet. Fortunately, thanks to your transfers, I am slowly reestablishing my financial position and have been able buy a cow. I branched into subsistence farming so as to make additional income while getting food for everyday consumption. I spent $52 of my transfers on food for my family. I then spent $39 on my grandchildren's tuition and the balance on buying medication for myself since I fell ill.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After losing a herd of cattle to the drought phenomenon, I have been seriously struggling to sustain my family's needs. Because I have some pending family goals that are long-term, when the year began, I developed a goal of investing my transfers in form of livestock. I value them as live assets that I can quickly dispose of when I need urgent cash. Raising a larger flock will be beneficial since I shall later sell them when I am in financial need to accomplish what I need. I am hopeful that if I succeed in raising healthy livestock. As a result, supporting my children's education may not be so burdensome.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a peasant farmer and a livestock keeper. However, due to the current drought ravaging our country, my family has been hard hit since I no longer earn my livelihood from such practices. When I received my recent transfer, I spent $15 on buying a kid after losing a herd of cattle last year. I am glad I have started fresh, and I have five goats. I had desired to begin raising goats as soon as my former herd succumbed to drought, but I could not since I did not have a reliable source of income for buying some. In addition, I spent $6 on fees for my school-going children. The rest of the transfer, $13 helped me to get food for my family of thirteen members. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the constant monthly transfers.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I applaud the organization for coming in to rescue us during a moment when we really needed the help. Through the donations we have been able to prosper financially and it can be seen clearly through better homes that people have built, kids are going to school and most importantly we are not starving anymore.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was very happy to realize that the Organization had sent out the transfer this time round because I was really looking forward to purchasing a goat which I did for KES 1,500. I see this as a future investment because so far I have managed to get two goats and I'm hoping that down the line they can breed and allow me to have more so that eventually I can benefit finacially. I proceeded to spend KES 1,000 buying five packets of maize flour, sardines and groceries because there was barely any food in the house and we were almost going to bed hungry that evening. Lastly I spent the balance of KES 500 on tuition for two of my grandkids because it had actually been two days since they had attended school.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home listening to the radio, at around 6.50 p.m. when I received a message alert on my mobile form. I immediately checked to see what it was all about only to find out that my first transfer from Give Directly had been sent. After starving throughout the previous night and day, I felt relieved to finally afford some food for my family that evening.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Due to the lack of a stable source of income, hunger is a major concern in my household. Since the month began up until the day I received the transfer, my family had slept hungry for at least five days. However, the narrative changed after the transfer. I acquired enough food through the money and we have never starved since then.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At 69, I cannot actively take part in strenuous tasks to financially support my family. I mostly depend on my son, working as a construction laborer in Mombasa, to provide for the family of seven children. To supplement the little he sends homes, I have been saving through a self-help group as little as KES 10 per day. My contribution to the group can help me occasionally obtain a loan up to KES 500, especially in times of need. However, this does not guarantee a stable income source because sometimes things get tough and the household runs out of food and lacks any means to secure more. This is what happened the evening before the transfer, where we had to drink porridge because there was not enough food. As a result, I spent KES 800 to buy food. I used KES 300 to clear the pending school fee balance of my grandchild who was constantly pulled from class to collect the money. I spent the remaining amount on a chicken, to start rearing and have a stable income source in the future when it breeds.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money from GiveDirectly means I will fulfill my dream of owning a chicken business in the village. I am planning to start this business with an initial capital of KES 30,000. The demand for chicken is high in the village and towns beyond especially during the festive seasons meaning I will have a ready market. I will use the profits from the sale of chicken to buy goats for domestic rearing. The sale of the goats means I will be able to educate my children well.
What is the happiest part of your day?
At my age of 69 years, being alive and healthy has brought joy and happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of money to attend to my family's basic needs such as food and clothing is the biggest challenge I am facing. I only rely on my struggling children in town to survive and this has proven unsustainable.