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 goal for the coming year is to build a larger, more spacious, and durable house that can comfortably accommodate all five members of my family. I have outlined a step-by-step plan to achieve this, focusing on using a portion of my transfers each month to buy the necessary building materials. So far, with the support of my husband, we have managed to purchase a lorry of stones for $70. However, we still need more stones and additional materials to complete the two-roomed house. I intend to save a portion of my future transfers and gradually buy the remaining materials bit by bit until we have everything required for the construction. I am incredibly grateful for the financial support, which is helping us make progress toward our dream despite the financial challenges we face. This new home will provide our family with more space and security, and I’m eager to see it become a reality.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I recently purchased a goat for $30, bringing the total number of goats I own to eleven. I am excited to see them multiply over time, as this will create an opportunity for me to sell some in the future and generate income. Additionally, having more goats means I have a fallback plan to raise funds in case of emergencies, which will greatly support my family. This income stream will also enable me to assist my husband in providing for our family's needs. In line with our long-term plans, I spent $68 on a lorry of stones, as my husband and I are preparing to build a bigger, more spacious, two-roomed stone house. Our current home is a cramped, single-room structure that doesn’t provide enough space for our family of five. Constructing a sturdier stone house will not only offer more room but also ensure the safety and security of my loved ones due to its durability. Lastly, I allocated $4 to purchase food, ensuring that my family has enough to eat. I am truly grateful for the financial support, which has allowed both my husband and me to make progress towards our shared goals, despite his modest earnings from his construction work.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently live in a one-room mud house, which is too small for my family. Joining a merry-go-round is my strategy to save enough money to build a spacious brick house. The new house will have three rooms, providing the privacy we lack and ensuring we have space for guests. Constructing this house will boost my self-esteem and fill me with pride. Despite being currently unemployed, I plan to start a shop after completing the house. I will start selling goods to my neighbors, in order to make more profits that will improve our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of three children, two are school-going, and one is not of age yet. Seeing them happy really makes me even happier, and I usually prioritize their education whenever I receive my transfers. I took $60 to pay for their school fees, ensuring they won't be sent home and their education won't be interrupted. Currently, I am in a merry-go-round where I contribute $10 each, and so far, I have contributed $30 to help me build my house. The house I currently have is small, and to build a larger one, I have to save enough. The remaining amount, $12, I spend on purchasing food for my family so they won't go hungry for some days.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have a dream to build a beautiful stone house for my family. Right now, we are living in a tiny mud house, all six of us squeezed in.It's getting really uncomfortable, and we all lack privacy to do anything we want. I am hopeful, even though I don't have a job at the moment. I will start saving from my transfers to make our dream home a reality.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of three children, two of whom are students, I recently ensured their education continued smoothly by allocating $10 for their school fees. Another $4 went towards nourishing them with good food. With foresight, I saved the remaining $20, fueling my ambition to construct a place we can proudly call our own. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the support and giving us hope for the future.
13th 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?
I have had a goal of building a new house. I live in a one room mud house. My house has crumbled before and had to be rebuilt during the rainy season. It is already showing signs of crumbling. My husband and I have decided to ensure we put in some money into ensuring we see this project to the end. I will require more than $1000 which we hope we will raise from our transfers as well as the money my husband from his casual construction jobs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I joined a savings team when I was enrolled for the Givdirectly. We make monthly contributions of $10 every month which is usually given to one of us. In the last three months I have directed $10 to my monthly contributions to the group. I have also used the cash to settle fee balance for my two children once when they were sent out of school in September at $10 and in July I paid the school fees upfront for the two at $10. I have a building project to which my husband and myself contribute our transfers towards and in August we made contributions of $24. I also got to seek medical treatment in September at $14 in a private clinic.
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?
Our intention is to construct a permanent two-room house, and we have already acquired certain construction materials, including sand. The savings I accumulate from the funds received through Givedirectly, along with my husband's earnings from occasional jobs, will assist us in achieving this goal. At present, we reside in a single-room dwelling with a tin roof and mud walls. However, due to our expanding family, there is a requirement for additional space to accommodate everyone comfortably.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Two months ago, I joined a merry-go-round group consisting of six individuals from my village. In this group, each member contributes $10 per month, which is pooled together and given to one member. This initiative is aimed at helping us accomplish our goals. Personally, I intend to utilize the savings to assist my spouse in contributing towards the construction of a new house. Being able to contribute to the development of our home fills me with pride, as previously I lacked a source of income. Additionally, I used a portion of the funds, $10, to pay the school fees for my two children—one in baby class and the other in pre-primary school. The remaining $10 was spent on purchasing food for my family and buying some shoes.
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?
My aim for this year is to finally get myself an economic activity. I do nit have a job and my husband is a casual construction worker. Her does nit make much since construction jobs have significantly reduced. My hope is to become a shop owner. I want to start saving at least $5 from each transfer until I get to $100 which I will use to set up the general shop. I also want to build my family a bigger house. we are a family of four that lives in a one room house which is not sufficient. I want to add a two room house which will mean we will have three rooms for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In December the money came during the festive period, I used $10 to buy food that was cooked during the festivities. I also bought clothes at $15 and shoes at $4.5 for my children to wear during the festive season and paid $5 for my older child's school fees. In January my second born was joining school so I made her a dress and bought a sweater for school at $10, I paid $5 so she could be allow to get into school. Being that we have had an issue of drought all the food we eat is bought so I bought maize flour worth $10 and also reduced my older child's school debt by $10. In February I also paid $10 to the school and used $20 to buy a goat, we also bought maize worth $4.
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?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in giving unconditional cash to every individual enrolled in the program. Through the transfer, I have found it easier to pay school fees for my son. Other community members have also witnessed a positive change in their lives since they can easily buy food and water as opposed to before. Some have also managed to take re-enroll their children in school. The community always talks well of GiveDirectly. There is nothing that does not do well. It should continue with the same work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My son, who is currently in PP1 had been sent home for school fee collection. Since I am a housewife, I depend on my husband, who does masonry work to support the family of six members. When I received my most recent transfer, I spent $15 on paying his fee. The remaining $15 helped me to obtain food and water for domestic use. We do not have easy access to clean water due to prolonged drought. Consequently, I have been relieved from the burden of raising fees and buying food courtesy of the transfer.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
From the time I got enrolled in GiveDirectly's program, I had been hopeful that I would be able to build a new house. Therefore, when I received my transfer, I felt so excited. Since building a new house remains my primary goal, I have not so far developed a new goal. However, I will channel all my subsequent transfers to bring this goal to completion. I had been longing to get some money to help me build a spacious room that can comfortably accommodate all my children. It will positively change my life for the better.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I received my recent transfer at 2 pm and by that time I was at home. Since all my clothes were dirty, I had resolved to spend the whole of my afternoon doing a thorough cleaning. Because I did not want any distractions, I had assumed checking message alerts on my phone. As soon as I was done with the cleaning, I decided to check my phone. I felt extremely happy to realize that it was the transfer from GiveDirectly. I immediately planned to spend part of it on school fees while the rest was on food. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a housewife with no other source of income. My husband, on the other hand, does casual work, which is always unpredictable. This situation forces my family to be lucky at times, leaving us unable to buy food and pay school fees for my children. I spent KES 500 from my recent transfer on school fees for my son, who is currently enrolled in ECD. I am happy because he has been attending his classes comfortably. In addition, I spent KES 500 on groceries for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
The poles I used to build my house were weakened by termites which made it collapse on one side one year ago. I have been living in such conditions due to lack of capital to renovate it. I have had many sleepless nights because of the danger such an environment brings. I had to request my mother-in-law to allow my children to sleep in her house because I feared that my children might be attacked by the wild animals at night. Receiving these transfers will enable me to repair the house and have a safe place to spend the night with my family again.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My family has been well for the past six months amidst all the challenges that we face like lack of food and sleeping in a house with one side down which can cause health hazards. This has made me happy because it allows me to concentrate on other things that can improve their living conditions.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I depend on my husband to provide for the family. He is overwhelmed with the responsibilities because his income is not consistent. I feel frustrated and stressed because there is nothing I can do to lift some burden off him. Sleeping on an empty stomach has been the order of the day in my house due to lack of money. Insufficient flow of money, therefore, is my current challenge.