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
55000 KES ($442 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?
The fact that the rental house I constructed got some tenants immediately, boosted my morale in the rental investment. Therefore, I have a plan of buying six acres of land near the school once I get some money so that I invest more in rental housing. This idea came after realizing that rental houses do not disappoint in terms of revenue when well managed and they have a guaranteed income monthly. By so doing, I will have a source of income from the rental collection and this will enable me to take good care of my family by catering to their daily and basic needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I echo the GiveDirectly program for it is thought out. Giving someone some money unconditionally gives the recipient the liberty to decide on how to use the money as per their demanding needs. The follow-up that is done frequently awakens our minds knowing that we are being cared for and the organization has good plans for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Investing in rental houses is what has been my main mission. Upon getting the second transfer, I used $200 to construct a mud-walled two-room rental house because the place I stay is strategic. I stay near a secondary school and students need accommodation. Currently, I am happy because the rooms are already occupied by tenants and I am assured of getting rental money at the end month, This is enabling me to sustain my family. Thereafter, I opted to invest by buying a cow that will in the future produce milk both for sale and for family use. For the remaining amount, I opted to keep it for the family's upkeep in terms of buying food and other emergencies.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5pm and I was from monitoring my charcoal burning business when I received the text message confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and gratefu, as well as knew that God exists and knows His people l when I got the money because I had plans that had stalled due to the insufficient income raised by my charcoal burning and selling business. I used to believe that one day a miracle will happen to me and I will fulfill my plans, and coincidentally, GiveDirectly came to us. I was so happy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I was able to repair and improve my house. I was able to build a better roof of iron sheets and I am so happy that we now have a better place to sleep and that the hardships we were going through ended with the coming of GiveDirectly to our village and getting me to be enrolled in the program. I was able to get a cow as well, which will always take care of us long after GiveDirectly is gone from our village, because it will grow, reproduce and increase in numbers and through it I'll be having something to always count on to address the financial challenges I will face in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 20000 on buying a cow because my children, in particular, wanted one so as to be benefiting from the milk that it will be producing once it starts reproducing. This milk will not only be food for my family but also I'll be able to offer the surplus to our neighbors at a fee which will raise some income that will inturn enable me to meet my family's daily immediate needs. This cows is also an investment that I believe will live on, multiply and increase in numbers which I will be able to sell one or two in the future and address the financial challenges I will be facing. I am so happy to have this cow because it is a part-time occupation that keeps me and my children busy as we normally take it to the forest and look after it as I cut down trees to burn charcoal. I am so happy and proud, all thanks to GiveDirectly
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widower with a family of two children. My wife passed on last month. She has been sick close to two years and she was complaining about pains in her stomach. Due to lack of money, she did not manage to seek medical attention on time. Later on, she was diagnosed with ulcers and passed on a month after. It was a painful moment for me and my two young children. From the time she passed on, life has been difficult for me because I need to prepare the two children for school then go to the forest to cut firewood for sale. This responsibility has made it impossible for me to go to towns to look for jobs because they have no one to take care of them. The firewood selling business earns me less that KES 1000 a month. This money is not enough to educate my children and meet their basic needs. My ambition has been to start growing green vegetables which I will sell and earn an income. However, due to lack of enough capital, this has never been possible. Upon receiving the cash transfer, I will use KES 50000 to buy two water tanks that will help in irrigation farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For over two months, I had not made any sale on my firewood business. This made my life very difficult. I had nothing to eat and I was forced to borrow food for my children from my neighbours because I could not withstand them crying. Fortunately last month a customer came and bought all the firewood that I had cut all that time which earned me a profit of KES 9000. This brought joy and happiness in my heart because we were approaching the Christmas and new year celebrations and I had nothing to celebrate on.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income is the main challenge that I am currently facing. Imagine being a widower without a job and having a family of two young children. This is the situation that I am facing currently. I depend on selling firewood to make both ends meet for my family. However, I earn little profit(KES 1000) a month that cannot sustain my family. My dream is to start irrigation farming where I will grow vegetables and supply in the nearby town market. Unfortunately due to lack of enough money, this has just been a dream. I intend to use KES 50000 to buy three water tanks that will help store enough water for irrigation. This will help me grow enough vegetables for sale regardless of the unreliable rainfall. I will then use the remaining amount to finish my house, buy a bed and a mattress for my children.
