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
53150 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because through the money I have managed to achieve a lot. I now have a place to call home because I was able to purchase a piece of land and constructed a house. Besides, I had not paid my wife's dowry and she had to go back to her maternal home till the dowry was paid. Through the money I managed to pay for her dowry and now I have my family back.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly does well in giving people cash and then let them decide on how to spend it. Through the cash, most people have been able to improve their lives. Most people who almost lost hope in life now have their lives back and people are happy. On the other there is no area they need to improve in.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the second transfer on construction labour. I had constructed with the first transfer but I ran out of cash to pay for the labour. The previous house was leaking from the roof so I felt it was prudent to replace it. Aportion of the money I spent on goats for rearing as away of investment for the future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($497 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message on my phone early in the morning. When I checked to confirm it, I could not believe what I saw. I had received KES 55000 in my Mpesa account. I have never received such amount of money in my life. I thought it was just a scandalous message from scammers, until it dawned on me that it was a reality when I purchased some airtime. I felt happy and thanked GiveDirectly for the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I was living in a small house with no plans of upgrading to a better one. It was also not in a stable condition, which means it could not withstand heavy rains. However, I am now a happy father having built a decent and spacious iron roofed house for my family. Having a new iron roofed house is the biggest difference in my daily life. I would not have accomplish this had I not received this transfer from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying building materials to construct a new house. I purchased 30 pieces of iron sheets, poles and nails to facilitate this. The previous one was very small and my financial status was not good enough to build a better house. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for helping me achieve this. In addition to the materials, I also paid for the cost of labour. I also took a portion of the money to pay dowry to my in-laws. I am at peace with them since I fulfilled this promise that I had made to them.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
"My ambition has been to clear dowry payment for my beautiful wife, but due to financial challenges this dream has never emerged. I married her 7 years ago and pay only 27,000 out of 87,000 shillings. She has been in and out of my home because her parents keeps on taking her back home. This has real disturbed my mind because it lowers my dignity. Sometimes my friends crack jokes on me, that I can not even settle dowry for my own woman. Earning this money means fulfilling my desires. Other than that,I will use the extra amount to renovate my house which is almost collapsing."
What is the happiest part of your day?
"Morning becomes my most happiest part of the day. This is because the temperature is cool and favourable for me to continue with my work of burning charcoal. Unlike in the afternoon when it is too hot."
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
"Inadequate capital becomes my happiest part of the day. I am a charcoal vendor, this job is energy draining and earns me 200 shillings per 1 sack. It takes at least 3 days for a sack to be ready for sale. This amount is not enough to cater for my basic needs. That is the reason I have failed to clear dowry for my wife too."
