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 ($429 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 short-term goal is to buy two dairy cows which would cost me $600 and sell the milk in the neighborhood. I have been struggling to pay school fees for my seven children and with this stream of income I would not strain to put my children through school
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The staff is polite, and whenever they come to visit me I feel special and valued. I am grateful and happy to see them over and over again.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving the transfer, I lived in a house made of grass. It was not conducive, sometimes when it rained we would shelter in the neighbor's house with my seven children and my wife which was embarrassing for me. My furniture and everything else inside the house would get wet. I stayed in that state for five years. I am a cobbler and I get a profit of $30 a month. This money mostly is spent on food. Receiving this transfer has enabled me to build a new house made of iron sheets. My family is now comfortable and I am happy, spent $350 to complete it and bought two sacks of maize for $120 which will me a while.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was late at 7 pm, and I was on my way home from a casual job site. Al throughout the day, I had neither received a phone call nor an SMS. However, on my way, something unusual happened, I had my phone vibrating. Upon checking, I at first doubted my sight. A Mpesa message? I felt so good to witness that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly. As soon as I arrived home, I informed my wife. She could not hide her joy when she heard that good news. Together we sat down and planned to buy building materials because we had desired to build a new house. The rest of the transfer could help us to pay school fees for my two daughters in Secondary school. I am grateful to GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is being able to continue to build and own a new house. As a result, I am soon getting out of living in a grass thatched house to living in an iron sheet house. In addition, it is going to be more spacious than the previous one. Consequently, there is an additional room for my children. Previously, they were spending with their grandmother but soon I will be spending together with my children. Spending together with them in the same house is going to make me joyous.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 from my second transfer on iron sheets for building a house. For years, my family had lived in a grass thatched house. We had hoped to build a large iron-roofed house, but due to our low income, this was not possible. In addition, I prioritized committing KES 15,000 to pay school fee arrears for my two secondary school-aged daughters. They had been sent back home for fees that week, and I could not raise any funds for them. I'm glad the transfer came at a time when I needed it. Finally, I used KES 10,000 to pay off the debts that I had previously incurred to support my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I plan to buy a dairy cow to boost my income that I get from working as a cobler. Having a dairy cow will bring in an additional KES 200 per day, to the KES 100 that I currently make. I will spend about KES 30,000 on this and a further 20,000 to improve my home by building a better house. I will then build a house and demolish the mud hut that I currently live in. I will replace the grass thatching material with an iron roof at a total cost of KES 40,000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My success in educating of my three children who have completed secondary school is the biggest joy even though they are yet to join a college to further their studies. Receiving this transfer will enable me to look for school fees from livestock keeping. This is giving me a peace of mind that I will take them to the highest level they may go.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge that I currently face. My job as a cobbler gives me about KES 100 per day which is insufficient etc to buy food for my children and me. I struggle having with content too little food daily.
