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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my recent transfers on repaying a loan I took to pay my two children's school fees. They are in form one, and their education is crucial to me. The loan was $300, and I am committed to repaying a monthly installment of $30. Using the latest transfers, I used $90 to settle the installments. Ensuring my children stay in school and get a good education is my top priority because I believe it will provide them with better opportunities in the future.
With the remaining funds, I invested $12 into my meat-selling business. This small addition to my stock helps me buy more meat from the slaughterhouse, which I then sell to community members and small cafeterias. This business is essential for providing for my family of five. By growing my stock, I can serve more customers and, in turn, generate more income. This helps me not only cover our daily expenses but also ensure that I can continue to repay the loan and support my children's education.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Receiving support from GiveDirectly has transformed my life and fueled my dreams for the future. With this financial assistance, I've steadily grown my meat-selling business, which provides an income to support my family. Over the coming year, I am determined to keep investing in my children's education, ensuring they have the resources and opportunities I never had. The money I earn, combined with the occasional small loans I take, helps me cover school fees, buy books, and secure a better future for them. Beyond just academic success, I hope to instill in them a sense of confidence and ambition. By continuing this path, I envision a future where my children graduate, find rewarding careers, and eventually give back to our community, breaking the cycle of poverty for good. My ultimate goal is to see them succeed and live out their dreams, knowing that the support from GiveDirectly is a crucial stepping stone in our journey.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal for the coming year is to spend heavily on preparing my land for farming before the rains come. I grow maize and cereals mainly for subsistence use. Securing enough food from the farm will help me use the money to educate my children. That way, they will have a good environment to learn and pursue their career goals. I am very grateful for the support from the transfers, which has helped me take care of my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Last year, two of my children successfully completed their primary education, excelling in their national examinations and earning the opportunity to continue their studies in secondary school. In anticipation of their transition, I initiated a savings plan to cover various expenses such as school fees, books, and uniforms. Through diligent saving, I accumulated $102, a significant contribution toward achieving the goal of enrolling my children in secondary school. This accomplishment was made possible by the financial support from the transfers. My income, primarily derived from casual jobs in construction and the sale of wild meat, is limited. Without the assistance from the transfers, realizing this educational goal for my children would have been challenging. I express deep appreciation for the invaluable support that has facilitated this milestone.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Ever since the year began, we experienced significant food shortages as drought was still prevalent in my region. During this time, part of the cash transfers I received went towards purchasing food to feed my family. Additionally, I have three children in primary school who rely on me to pay their tuition fees. Each month, I need to allocate at least $28 for their tuition, and I also have to provide $9 every week for two of them since they stay in a rental space near their school. To cover these educational expenses, I primarily rely on the profits from my door-to-door beef meat-selling business. The cash transfers have played a vital role in boosting this business, enabling me to generate more income. From the three recent cash transfers, I set aside $62 to increase my meat stock for the business. I'm pleased that by reinvesting in my business, the cash transfers have significantly contributed to providing for my family. I have also saved the remaining $40. Typically, my goal is to reinvest this money into my business as well, but I need to first check if any pending tuition fee balances for my children could jeopardize their education. Once I've taken care of their school fees, the remaining funds will be allocated to the business.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My ultimate goal is to expand my meat-selling business and establish my butcher stall along with a food stand right next to it. To start this venture, I estimate that I will need at least $100 in capital. I'm now more optimistic than ever about accumulating this amount because we recently harvested maize produce that will provide food for my family for the remainder of this year. With the food constraints eliminated, I'm confident that I can save $25 every month over the next four months to reach the required capital for my business expansion.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the assistance I have received, which has improved my standard of living. To begin with, because the rain has been adequate, I have been able to prepare my four acres of land for planting. I hired a tractor and completed the task of planting maize, and my expectation is that a good harvest will result in food availability in my household in the coming months. In addition, I paid some fees for my children, and they were permitted to continue their studies. I'm glad I have plenty of time to raise fees for their upcoming term. In addition, I spent $20 on the transfer, which helped my small business of buying meat from slaughterhouses and supplying it to villages. My daily profits have increased to $7, allowing me to easily meet the basic needs of my household, such as food.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
So far, the transfer has helped me boost my business of supplying meat in the village, from which I have been earning a good living, unlike previously. I've been able to meet my household's basic needs with ease thanks to the business, and my children are also in school. My goal for the coming year and beyond is to ensure that my children receive the best education possible and that their education is not disrupted due to a failure to pay their fees on time. I have three children in primary school and one in a technical college studying tailoring. I intend to purchase a sewing machine for her, which will cost around $130 so she can open her own tailoring shop after she graduates college. By doing so, she will be able to support herself.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past three years, I have been running a butchery shop. I started with a small capital, but steadily it has been growing. However, from it, I could always generate an average profit of $3 a day for the first two years. Since I got enrolled in GiveDirectly's program, I have been investing a portion of my transfers to boost my business. Therefore, immediately after I received my recent transfer, I pumped the whole of it into the same business. I am glad that there is a registered improvement in its performance since then. As a result, I have begun to realize an average profit of $5 daily, with the highest at times going to $10. Consequently, catering for meals and school fees for my five children seems to be lessened. I am so grateful for GiveDirectly's financial aid.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Used $15 of my recent transfer to improve my butchery business and used another $15 to buy food and other basic household needs for my family. Before I had increased my stock of meat I would make a profit of up to $8 per day but this has changed right now. I can make a profit of up to $12 per day and I am so grateful for this positive trend in my business. I am a father of five with four of my children already in school. My wife does charcoal selling business to earn a living and she uses this money to support our family. Most of the expenses that we incur are to hose of paying school fees for our children. I am so happy that the money has boosted my business and I will forever be indebted to GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well by enrolling everyone without giving them conditions on how the money should be spent. Receiving the money monthly rather than in lumpsum was also a very nice decision. We can all make proper decisions with the little that we get as we make progress in bits.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My daughter happens to be in a college where she is learning tailoring and when I received the money she had an outstanding debt so I ended up using KES 1,200 from the funds I had received to pay for that. I also have a business where I own a butcher so I used the remaining part of the donation which was KES 1,800 and used it as part of the capital for the business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Investing in my business was the most vital thing I did with the transfers especially because the profit I make helps me sustain my family and our day to day needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I hardly saw that I had received the money that day because I was quite busy th trying to run my business and it was only after I got home when I saw the funds. Ordinarily I was quite happy especially because it was completely unexpected.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I work as a meat distributor in our village, a job that earns me 500 KES as a profit per day. Sometimes, I fail to get some meat at the butchery and this means my income is not consistent. This has affected my ability to fully support my family and consequently, the children are in most cases sent out of school. Seeing my children at home discourages me a lot since I always get worried about their performances. Considering this, I consider the lack of a stable source of income as the biggest challenge that I am currently facing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In March this year, my meat vending work was doing well and I used to get utmost 1000 KES as a profit per day. This was because people had no option of buying the meat since the area was so dry and no vegetables were available. At this time, I was able to meet much of my family's needs, and hence, I consider this as my source of joy.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have 5 children and 3 are still in primary school while the others could not continue with studies after their standard 8 exams due to lack of school fees. I desire to ensure my children get the best in their studies and I aim at supporting them fully in paying their fees once I start receiving the transfers. This will give them ample time in school and eventually, their performances will improve. By doing this, I will be assured of a bright future in my household when they secure decent jobs. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.