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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($308 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?
In the coming years, I have big dreams for my farm. I want to grow grass because I plan to start dairy farming. With the money I'll earn from my poultry farm, I hope to buy a dairy cow. I've already taken steps towards my goal. I used some of the money from GiveDirectly to buy a grass crusher machine. This machine will not only help me with my poultry farming but also prepare grass for my future dairy cows. I'm excited about the journey ahead and the opportunities it will bring for me and my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I really appreciate how GiveDirectly gives money straight to people without telling them how to spend it. I think it's great because everyone has different needs. I don't have anything bad to say about GiveDirectly because I haven't heard anything negative about their programs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I had to make careful choices to improve my family's life. With $55, I bought food because my four kids and I were hungry. Our rivers had dried up, and we hadn't grown any food for a while. Then, I used $150 to buy 70 chicks, their food, and feeding equipment. This helped boost my poultry farming, which was struggling. Before, I only sold 30 eggs a day, making $6. Now, after six months, I'll sell 60 eggs daily, earning $12 each day. To protect the chickens, I spent $70 on fencing the compound.
Knowing my kids needed privacy as they grew, I allocated $80 to finish a room for them. And for a long-term investment, I used another $80 to buy two goats. These choices weren't just about spending money—they were about securing a better future for my family.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($295 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming year and beyond, my ambition is to purchase a dairy cow, not only to generate extra income but also to supply milk for my children. To achieve this objective, I intend to allocate a portion of my third transfer towards realizing this dream. With steadfast determination and hard work, I am confident that I can turn this aspiration into a tangible reality. I believe that my dedication and effort will be instrumental in the successful attainment of this goal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly excelled in ensuring that the funds we received were unconditional, affirming that no repayment was required, a commitment that held true. From the outset, we were treated as valued individuals, and the quality of service provided was exceptional. I am profoundly thankful for the support extended to us during our most challenging period.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a trained teacher currently without employment, as I await government placement. Presently, my husband and I rely on farming, specifically poultry keeping and goat rearing, to sustain ourselves. Blessed with three children, we faced the challenge of a small house. Upon receiving our second transfer, my husband and I decided to allocate $147 for building materials to expand our home, providing a more comfortable space for our family. Additionally, $55 was spent on essential food items. The remaining $240 was invested in purchasing a chaff cutter, enabling us to harvest and sell grass, thereby boosting our income. This was a significant improvement from our past financial constraints, where earnings were primarily allocated to school fees and basic sustenance. I am immensely grateful for the support that has transformed my life.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($140 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
During a typical evening at home, I received a text message notifying me that I had received $200. Overwhelmed with joy, this was a first-time experience for me, receiving such a significant sum all at once. That day, my mood by 5pm was vastly different; I was brimming with happiness and my family shared in my delight. It was then that I began to nurture hopes of fulfilling my dreams. I immediately reached out to my husband to share the fantastic news.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The difference in my life is that For the first time in what feels like forever, I am filled with hope for a better future and the ability to provide the best for my family. These were aspirations I previously admired in others, but never thought they could become my reality. The prospect of constructing a house and planning for a future business venture truly feels like a dream come true.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receipt of my initial $200 transfer from Give Directly, I promptly spent $140 on iron sheets. This was crucial in ensuring the construction process for my family's three-room house could commence as early as possible. Additionally, I allocated $52 to procure a month's worth of food for my family of four, with the remaining $4 used to cover transportation costs.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
We are a family of 5 and struggling to make ends meet. We have several needs and wishes to fulfill but we have been inadequate because of lack of finances. Our kitchen house is in a bad state, it is old and dilapidated. The roof is grass thatched and the walls are made of mud, it lets in water and makes it so uncomfortable especially during the rainy seasons. The recent rains gave us a headache since we could not cook well as the water leakage from the roof could diminish the fire. It is against this backdrop that we intend to build another decent kitchen made of iron sheets, it will cost approximately $ 600 to complete. We are extremely happy about GiveDirectly's transfers. It is an enabler of dreams. We will use the rest of the money to purchase foodstuff and do perimeter fencing around our homestead.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a trained primary school teacher, I cleared my college in 2021 at Samburu Teachers Training College, however, my certificate was retained because I still had arrears amounting to $720. Sometime in December last year, after incessant calls for assistance, my family did a fundraising towards clearing the pending fees. Later on, I was able to go for my certificate. It immediately opened a door for me since the following month of January I was employed as a teacher in the nearby Katambai primary school albeit under School Board of Management terms, I am yet to be employed by the government. It was a momentous time for me, I had lost hope of ever having my certificate, it was the best thing ever to happen to me. I have since been awarded a Teacher's service Pin number and I am ready for employment at any time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My health has failed me and it has been disturbing me for sometime now. I have asthma that has weighed me down and derailed me from leading a normal life. I am an early childhood education teacher and sometimes I am not able to attend to my duty whenever I feel so sick. It breaks my heart a lot since the children I teach bear the greatest brunt, I feel for them and it worries me a lot. I have attended several hospitals but I have not been able to recover well. I had resorted to traditional medicine though there has been little improvement.