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
53150 KES ($475 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having completed my newly built house with my first transfer, I was super excited that the dream I had always heard could be a reality. This would be a huge step for me which would not have been possible without the cash transfer. I am grateful that I was chosen to be a beneficiary of this project.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the decision by Give directly to give the cash transfer in a lump sum amount was a great favor to me. It gave me a chance to spend on what I had always wanted to acquire. I cannot complain because all processes were free and fair.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving my second transfer, I choose to spend Kshs.40,000 to buy 8 sheep for both domestic and financial benefits. In a month's time,four of them will be in their lambing stage and this will be of great help to me since I will be able to sell as a source income. With the remaining amount, I bought clothes for my family and bought one sac of maize at Kshs.2700 which would sustain us for a couple of months as we wait for our harvest.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 o'clock in the morning when I was with my family spending some time together while discussing some developmental goals when I received a message notification on my phone. Upon checking it's contents, my heart was filled with joy and I immediately informed my family that GiveDirectly had finally honored their promise. This money gave me hope that I would finally change tyres to my motorcycle and continue with my business of offering taxi services to people.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I own two motorcycles that I had stopped using them to offer taxi services as their tyres were worn out and I was living in fear of causing an accident. With the transfers, I was able to purchase new tyres and my business is now thriving. On average, I earn KES 800 and with this money, I am able to spend KES 300 on our basic needs and save the remainder. This has been the biggest difference in my life since apart from meeting our daily needs on time, I am able to save money that I can later use in paying school fees for my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I own two motorcycles that I use to offer taxi services. I operate one while one of my neighbors operates the other and gives me KES 300 daily after fueling it. Their tyres were worn out and I had stopped using them due to fear of causing an accident and end up spending more than what I earn. My transfer came in handy as it enabled me to purchase new ones at KES 10000.so that I would resume my business, a dairy cow worth KES 25000 and two goats at KES 12000. I settled in buying the livestock so that they will be my alternative source of income. Milk derived from the goats will be used for domestic purposes while I sell those from the cows so that I can use the money in paying school fees for my children. I spent the remaining KES 7700 to purchase one sack of maize, 10kg of beans and 10kg of rice for our consumption.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My ambition is to be a large scale livestock farmer, in particular a sheep farmer. I am currently a motorcycle rider, this only brings in an income of about $2-$dollars a day which is very little compared to my family size of 4 and the basic needs it can sustain. Sheep multiply in plenty and in a year a sheep can reproduce twice or three times making it easier to have a stable income once I start selling. One sheep goes for about $35, after 2 years they reproduce and you get 3 sheep. They do not need special feeding and so grass will do. That is why I will use most of my first transfer to buy 9 sheep amounting to $250 and the rest in building a fence for security and beautification around my compound.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On my usual day I wake up at around 6 in the morning take breakfast and get ready for work. I spend most of the day on road as a motorcycle rider until evening. On days that I make a lot of profit, I get to use the cash in buying my family good food and I'm mostly happy when I see smiles on their faces and feel proud of my work as a father.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship has been unemployment and financial stability. I work as a casual labourer in the motorcycle industry. On a good day I make only $2-$3, I also keep poultry which as a household we sell but recently their has not been any sell. This has made it difficult to buy food and clothes for my 2 children.
