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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($347 USD)
access_time 4 days ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have two primary goals for this year and beyond to complete the construction of my house and to invest further in my business. The completion of my house will depend on the last transfer from GiveDirectly, which I plan to use to finalize the construction. This will be a significant milestone for me because the floods destroyed my previous home, and owning a house again will bring stability and security to my family.
Additionally, I plan to invest in the business I started with the first transfers. This step is crucial as it will ensure a steady flow of income to my household. With this income, I will be able to meet my family’s daily needs without constant worry. These goals fill me with hope and determination, and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for allowing me to rebuild and work toward a better future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What stood out for me about GiveDirectly is its unconditional cash program. The support comes without restrictions, allowing recipients to focus on their most pressing needs and long-term goals. This approach is empowering and has brought significant positive changes to my life and the lives of many others in my community.
My recommendation is for GiveDirectly to consider extending their support beyond the scheduled three transfers. Continued assistance would help families like mine to achieve even greater stability and further improve our livelihoods. I am deeply grateful for the impact GiveDirectly has already made and hopeful for their ongoing support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was incredibly grateful to receive $450 from GiveDirectly. This support came at a critical time, enabling me to start recovering from the losses I experienced during the recent floods. I used $230 to buy iron sheets, as I plan to build a house to replace my old Manyatta home, which was swept away by the floods. Currently, I am living in a borrowed house, but I intend to complete the construction of my new home using the final transfer from GiveDirectly.
After addressing the housing issue, I turned my attention to our next most urgent need—food. I spent $100 to buy enough food to ensure my family had consistent meals, especially since we had no harvest this season. Despite the challenges, we now have enough to eat, and this has been a great relief.
Additionally, I used $95 to buy a bed and a mattress, as the floods also took away my previous ones. For the first time in a while, I am sleeping comfortably, and I feel a sense of normalcy returning to my life. I am truly thankful for this support, which has been instrumental in helping me rebuild and regain stability for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18150 KES ($141 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was sitting under a tree with my auntie, my grandmother, and my nieces when I heard a notification on my phone. I quickly checked it, and to my surprise, it was the GiveDirectly cash transfer. At that exact moment, everyone I was with also received their transfers. We all screamed in joy, hugging each other tightly, completely overwhelmed by the excitement and disbelief of this unexpected blessing. For the first time in a long while, I felt a deep sense of hope—now, I could finally rebuild my house, which had been destroyed during the floods.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference I've seen in my life since receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly is the hope I now have of building my own house. Before, it seemed like just a dream, but now, having bought 4 iron sheets, I feel like I'm finally taking the first step toward making that dream a reality. My business was so unstable before that I never thought I could afford to start construction any time soon. But with this cash, I've been able to make a milestone I didn't expect to reach so quickly, and it's given me a renewed sense of possibility for the future.I will forever be grateful to GiveDirectly for making my dream a reality.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the cash transfer, the first thing I did was buy four iron sheets for $48. My house had sunk during the floods, and I’ve been wanting to start building a new one ever since. The excitement I felt in taking the first step toward having a house of my own was immense, especially because the one I currently live in belongs to my grandmother. This was my way of slowly but surely rebuilding our home and future. I used another $120 from the transfer to restock my small shop. I realized that having a steady source of income would be critical while building the house. The shop will help cover our daily food expenses, which means I can channel future funds—especially the second transfer—toward the construction. Having the shop stable is essential, and it gives me peace of mind knowing I won’t have to rely solely on cash transfers for food and basic needs. With the remainder of the money, I bought household food items to ensure we had enough to eat and remained food secure. It was important to me that while focusing on long-term goals like the house, my family’s immediate needs were taken care of. Thanks to the cash transfer, I now feel more prepared to face the challenges ahead.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will allocate $500 towards putting up a house for me and my 5 children after being rendered homeless by floods 2 months ago. I am so excited that my family will no longer have to endure cold nights and water borne illnesses going forward, thanks to GiveDirectly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Amidst the devastating effect of the floods that tormented the village 2 months ago, it was all mixed reactions for me when I gave birth to my fifth child – a beautiful baby girl. I am happy to have received the bundle of joy devoid of complications despite the disaster that befell in the dead of night.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When flash floods swept into our village 2 months ago, I was 9 months heavy for my fifth child. I lost my house to the raging waters and fought my way out to higher grounds despite my condition, together with my 4 children. The devastating calamity has left me homeless since then and unable to singlehandedly provide for my family, worse being a single mother.