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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My dream is to own a piece of land and build rental houses that will serve as valuable assets in the future, allowing me to sustain my family and provide an education for my children. To achieve this, I plan to develop a larger livestock base that I can trade for cows down the line. Currently, I run a food kiosk business, which I started using the transfers I received from GiveDirectly, and I am happy to say that it helps meet my family's daily needs. I intend to continue using a portion of my transfers to buy goats, hoping they will multiply and increase in number and value. In the future, I plan to trade these goats for cows, which I will raise until they appreciate in value and can be sold. The proceeds from these cows will then be used to purchase the piece of land I desire. Once I acquire the land, I will trade more goats and cows to generate additional funds for building the house. I have always wanted to live in a place where I don’t have to pay rent and to become a landlady, knowing that this source of income is reliable. By pursuing these strategic investments, I am actively working toward securing our financial future. The goats and cows will provide a sustainable source of income, while the expansion of my business will increase our revenue. By combining these efforts, I am confident that we will achieve our goal of owning our own home and living a more secure and prosperous life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have my eye on a plot of land near where I live, and my dream is to own it so I can build a rental house and have my own place to stay as well as have a reliable source of income where I will be collecting rent. To work toward this goal, I've been using a portion of my transfers to buy goats. Recently, I spent $50 to purchase two goats, adding to my existing herd, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in value. My plan is to eventually trade these goats for cows, which I believe will appreciate in value and allow me to sell them in the future to buy the land. Additionally, I spent $8 to acquire two chickens, hoping they will also multiply and eventually be traded for more goats. I also run a food-selling kiosk where I cook and sell meals. To expand this business and increase my sales and revenue, I invested $34 of my transfers, and I am proud to say that my business is thriving. Moreover, I allocated $5 to pay my child's school fees to ensure he remains in school and does not have to return home due to unpaid fees. Finally, I spent the remaining $5 on food for my family, ensuring we stay healthy. I am grateful for the support that GiveDirectly is providing us.
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to purchase a plot of land and build a house. Currently, we are renting, but owning our own place would bring immense peace and financial relief. I am already in the process of acquiring the land, and I plan to utilize my transfers to buy more goats. I am hopeful that these goats will multiply and increase in number and value over time. In the future, I plan to trade these goats for cows, which will also multiply and increase in number. When the time is right, I can sell these cows and use the proceeds to acquire the piece of land. In addition to my livestock investments, I also plan to expand my vegetable selling business into a bigger shop that will sell more varieties of products. This expansion will increase our revenue, allowing us to take better care of our family. By pursuing these strategic investments, I am working towards securing our financial future. The goats and cows will provide a sustainable source of income, while the expanded business will increase our revenue. By combining these efforts, I am confident that we will be able to achieve our goal of owning our own home and living a more secure and prosperous life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We live in a rental house, and my husband and I have always wanted to have our own plot of land and build our house. To make this dream a reality, I have ventured into livestock farming. I allocated $50 of my recent transfers to purchase goats, with the hope that they will multiply and increase in number and value over time. My plan is to eventually trade these goats for cows, which will also grow in number and value. When the time is right, I will sell the cows to raise funds for buying a plot of land. In addition to the goats, I also bought three chickens using $10 of my transfers. Similar to the goats, I am optimistic that these chickens will multiply and increase in number. In the future, I intend to sell them and use the proceeds to buy more goats, further expanding my livestock holdings. Recognizing the importance of my child's education, I spent $20 of my transfers to pay school fees. This investment ensures that my child can continue their studies without interruption. To make sure that my family does not go hungry, I allocated $13 to purchase food. Additionally, I gifted my husband $5 for his personal welfare, demonstrating my commitment to supporting his well-being. Finally, I have a vegetable selling business, and I used the remaining $5 of my transfers to add to my stock. By reinvesting in my business, I can expand my product offerings and potentially increase my profits, contributing to our overall financial stability.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
My goal for this year is to purchase a plot of land and build a house. Currently, we are renting, but owning our own place would bring immense peace and financial relief. I am already in the process of acquiring the land, and I plan to utilize my savings alongside forthcoming transfers to achieve this goal. Owning our own home would not only provide my family with stability and security but also bring peace of mind. It would also alleviate the financial burden on my husband, who currently shoulders the responsibility of paying our monthly rent. This program has truly been a life-changing blessing for me and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I recently began a small business selling cooked food in our village, and it is currently doing well. Previously, I sold vegetables, but I had to stop because it was not profitable. With my husband working as a casual laborer, we faced financial difficulties as he was not making enough to cover our expenses. However, our fortunes changed for the better when GiveDirectly reached our village. Now, I have a thriving business, can afford my child's school fees, and have even invested in chickens and a goat with the help of these transfers. With $20, I bought clothes for my children for the New Year holiday and then spent $10 on buying household essentials like soap, sugar, and oil which had run out and needed replenishing. I then allocated $48 to start and expand my business, gradually increasing its stock and boosting its success. Additionally, $15 went towards my child's kindergarten fees, while $9 was utilized to purchase chickens for rearing. I am genuinely thankful for this assistance, as it has transformed our lives for the better.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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?
My overarching goal is to provide a better life for my children than I experienced growing up in the village. I have always wanted to own a piece of land and a rental house. Despite facing financial constraints that hindered me from doing this, I am hopeful that the ongoing support from cash transfers will enable me to save towards these aspirations. Furthermore, I plan to continue investing in goat rearing, as could be a potential source of funds that will contribute to realizing my dreams in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am deeply grateful to GiveDirectly for the invaluable support provided through the cash transfers. With the recent funds, I took a significant step towards my dream of owning a large herd of livestock, including cattle and goats. I invested $50 to acquire two goats, recognizing the potential financial stability that comes with livestock ownership. I currently run a food stand business. The unpredictable nature of its income prompted my decision to focus on rearing livestock for a more sustainable future. In addition to acquiring goats, I saved $28, intending to combine it with future transfers to expand my livestock holdings. The funds were instrumental in addressing urgent needs, such as paying $7 to enable my sister to resume her studies after being sent away from school due to unpaid tuition. The remaining $17 was allocated to cover the essential food needs of my family.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My ultimate goal is to create a sense of independence and establish a secure and comfortable home for my family. Despite currently residing within my husband's parent's compound, I aspire to acquire my own space where my family can thrive. To achieve this dream, my strategy involves purchasing a plot of land and constructing a house. To accumulate the necessary funds, I will diligently save money and also engage in the livestock trade, selling animals as a means of generating additional income. By implementing this plan, I aim to commence construction by the beginning of next year, moving closer to the realization of my goal of owning a home that truly belongs to my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Through the support of GiveDirectly, I was finally able to fulfill my long-held aspiration of starting a livestock venture. With their recent transfer, I purchased a goat valued at $28, kickstarting my project and paving the way for a brighter future. Additionally, I allocated $6.70 from the funds to buy food for my family, ensuring their well-being. GiveDirectly's contribution has been instrumental in turning my dreams into reality, and I am now filled with happiness and gratitude for the opportunities it has provided my family and I.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After observing how well my grocery business is doing, I had the idea to open a boutique. I decided on this line of work because I have a lot of expertise in it and there isn't any competition in our region. I have a strategy to save $20 in each transfer I receive going forward in order to accomplish this. I plan on starting the business before the year is through, and I have faith that it will succeed in helping me support my family without having to put forth as much effort as I do now.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I have been operating a grocery store for a living and to provide for my family's needs, I saw it prudent to add more stock to add life to it. When I received the recent transfer, I opted to use $20 in buying more stock for the business. Having a variety of leafy vegetables and fruits in the store attracts more buyers, and the more buyers the higher the profit. As of now, the business is flourishing courtesy of GiveDirectly. This business aids me to provide for my family's needs. I also used $7 for medication because by the time I received the transfer I was expectant. For the other $7, I bought some food for my family.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The organization calling us and checking on us every month is the best thing that they do for us. This organization gives us hope.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It was at 3 pm, I was doing laundry outside my house. When I received the transfer I was overwhelmed with happiness because the previous night my family had gone to bed with an empty stomach, I quickly dressed up and went to the market to buy some pieces of fish at $0.4, ugali at $19, and spinach at $20. That day we eat a balanced diet and saved some for my husband to enjoy in the evening.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had actually just arrived back home from the farm when I finally noticed that the funds had been sent out by the Organization. I was filled with so much euphoria instantly because as I had mentioned prior we had gone for a couple of days without having a meal and it was especially tough for the children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
In my opinion nutrition was definitely a great deal for me and my family especially because it has been a recurring challenge for so numerous occasions and I was glad that I did not have to worry about having a meal especially having little children to feed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As soon as I received the transfers I went ahead and used KES 500 on buying two hens because I wanted to begin poultry farming as a small investment project that could help me financially in the long run. I also used KES 500 again in purchasing three packets of maize flour especially because it had been actually two days since my children and I had a meal and and then used KES 150 in buying laundry detergent and then used the remaining KES 50 on sugar and tea leaves.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My 3 years of experience in dressmaking have equipped me with the skills and confidence of running a tailoring business. Currently, I am jobless at home after separating from my husband 5 months ago because of a family conflict, and I lost hope of returning to him again. This means I should establish a business to provide for myself and my daughter. With these transfers, I intend to save monthly to hit 40000 KES, an amount which is enough to set up the business at our nearby town center which I have identified to be very suitable. This business will prove me with a high profit because I will be having 2 neighboring schools to serve them. Thus, a reliable source of income for me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Family love! The fact that my parents accepted me back after separating from my husband is the most remarkable thing I am grateful for. This has given me peace of mind and I am so optimistic about moving on with life as a single mother.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine separating from my husband after 2 years of marriage, leaving me with a daughter whom I take care of single-handedly. This is the worst situation that I am going through in my life because I do not have a reliable source of income to support us. I am currently forced to do charcoal work to get some cash but again, the fear of carrying a sack of charcoal to Mariakani town by head hinders me from actively doing this job because of the backlash I get from my peers.