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 family has access to food because of the generosity of the transfers we receive. It is in very rare occasions that we worry about food since we started receiving transfers. This has allowed me to channel my energies about planning for a future for my young family. I am saving towards getting my oldest in school once they get to 5 years of age and also having the younger one join soon after. I plan to continue saving the portion of the money left after purchasing food to get my child to school to get education which will open opportunities as they grow. I also intend to use this savings to buy a motorcycle on loan and pay using the earnings I get from it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a fisherman who occasionally does motorcycle rides to make ends meet. I have two children and a wife. My wife is a stay at home mother and is a seasonal farmer. Givedrectly transfers have provided a lifeline for my family and I. I do not make much from the work I do, my income weekly is between $5 to $10 depending on how frequently I am hired to help with motorcycle rides or go fishing. my family would have had many days of sleeping hungry had it not been for transfers, I have recently spent $48 0n food from my transfers, $16 monthly, I have bought four chicken each at $5 all together costing $20. I also use my transfers to get essential toiletries such as soap and body oil at $25 cumulatively. I saved $10 to a village savings group. I always leave something unused to cater for any emergencies.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 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 primary objective is to purchase my own motorcycle. The one I am currently using belongs to a colleague, and I can only access it for a few hours a day when he is not using it. With my own motorcycle, I will have the freedom to work at my own pace and increase my earnings. I plan to utilize the funds from the savings club to achieve this goal. Being able to provide well for my family would bring me a great sense of peace and stability. I am genuinely content with the progress I have made with the assistance provided by Give Directly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has been a constant struggle to make ends meet since I am married with two children, and my wife does not have a job, relying entirely on me to provide for her and our children. Due to this situation, I operate a motorcycle taxi and also work as a fisherman to earn a living. I am pleased to say that with the transfers we have received, the burden has somehow lightened. I decided to join a savings club, where I saved $45 from the transfers we received. I then allocated $15 to purchase chickens, as I have a passion for animal rearing and plan to raise them until maturity, eventually selling or exchanging them for a goat. The remaining $42 was used to purchase food and other essential household items to sustain our family. I am genuinely thankful to Give Directly for all they have done for my family.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently saving in my merry go round to purchase a motorcycle, allowing me to gain independence and convenience. Currently, I borrow one from a friend and share the expenses among ourselves. Additionally, I have plans to establish a herd of cattle and raise chickens, with the aim of generating future profits. These ventures represent my determination to enhance mobility, create income opportunities, and build a brighter future for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Last month was a whirlwind of emotions and financial decisions. With excitement and anticipation, I set aside $10 in my merry go round savings, knowing it would bring future benefits. Amidst the joy of welcoming our second child, I joyfully spent $10 on nourishing food and $10 on shopping to support my wife during this special time. As we embraced this new chapter of our lives, I also prioritized preparedness by saving $4 for unexpected emergencies. It was a month filled with love, gratitude, and a sense of responsibility towards the well-being of my growing family and thank you so much GiveDirectly for the transfers and the support, I am forever grateful.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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 been saving part of the monthly transfers in order to buy a second-hand motorcycle that I was offered. A friend who is employed by a neighbor to provide taxi services has been giving me the motorcycle to use, though not daily. I do not have any job currently, and were it not for his help, it would have been hard for me to provide for my family. My goal currently is to ensure that I save enough, top up my savings with a small loan, and buy a second-hand motorcycle. Having my own motorcycle will be advantageous to me because I will not be paying hiring expenses to anyone.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been providing taxi services using a friend's motorcycle, which has so far helped me to fend for my family. I am at least able to buy food with the little income I get from the motorcycle. I don't always get to ride the motorcycle because it belongs to a friend who works for the owner. When I began receiving the transfers, I decided to save a larger portion every month in order to buy a second-hand motorcycle. I will top up the savings with a small loan to enable me to buy the motorcycle. I believe having my own motorcycle will enable me to effectively provide for my family and pay school fees for my child. I spent the rest of the money on buying foodstuffs such as maize and vegetables, which ensured that my household does not lack food.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I run a motorcycle taxi service because I don't have a formal engagement. Because I do not own a motorcycle, I rely on a friend. However, my daily income is always low, $2, whereas I always give him $4. I saved $20 in a merry-go-round immediately after I received my latest transfer to buy a motorcycle once I had saved enough money. When I get my motorcycle, I will be able to make a daily net profit of $10. Because I am a married man with a daughter, I spend the remainder on household items such as soap and maize flour. It has made my life quite easier. I appreciate GiveDirectly's charitable efforts.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I got enrolled I had promised myself to use each transfer I received to ensure that I expanded my farm by getting more farm animals, but unfortunately this time round I could not do so because drought has really taken a toll on us back in the village and to make matters worse the cost of living has been really high making it extremely challenging to make ends meet. Therefore as soon as I received the funds I went ahead and bought eight packets of maize flour worth KES 1,600 and then since I also wanted to venture into poultry farming I bought two hens. After the purchases I was left with a balance of KES 800 which I kept on using gradually to purchase milk for my infant son and used the rest to acquire laundry detergent.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 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?
GiveDirectly changes people's lives. It elevates their lives. As for what you do not do well, I do not see any improvements you need to make.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I got KES 1200 for my first transfer after receiving a phone from GiveDirectly. I bought 2 hens worth KES 600 and used the remaining KES 600 to buy food. We did not have food at that time. We had not had food for 2 days.
When I received the second transfer, I wanted a goat and bought one at KES 2500. I then used KES 500 for food and charging my phone, charging a phone is KES 20.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the market stranded and I didn't know what to feed my family because I had not sold any bundle of firewood that day. When the message popped and I noticed it was the transfer, I was so happy because I knew I had something to feed my family at the end of the day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I wouldn't say a lot has changed but I'm hopeful that I will achieve my goals and I will not have to struggle to provide for my family like I usually do.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Traveling more than 30 kilometers to sell firewood inorder to provide for my family has been my daily hustle and this has not been a walk in the park. Someday, I usually spend two days for me to sell all the bundles. My long life goal was to rear chicken and supply them to the local hotel and markets nearby. This has not been achievable because I the KES 1000 that I earn weekly was not enough to provide for my family and save towards starting the business and I thought the transfer will be of much help towards achieving my goals. I spent KES 600 to buy to chicken and KES 500 to buy food for my family. I'm so hopefully that the chicken will grow and mutiplie as I plan to be adding more everytime I receive my monthly transfers.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being a breadwinner to a family of 7 members has been a burden to me since my work as a motorcycle taxi rider does not earn me enough to cater to the family needs. I have desired to own a bike so that I get actively engaged in this business but due to financial instability, this has never been possible. When I heard about the arrival of GiveDirectly to our area, my hope for a better future got awakened. I am now planning to join our local merry-go-round group so that I will be saving my monthly transfers. This will enable me to have enough shares to purchase my bike after 12 months of saving. Acquiring the motorbike will mean a better change for my family status because there will be a stable source of income and hence a happy life. The remaining transfers will help me to buy food and also change my beddings which as of now are rugged. Thus, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Apart from being a motorbike rider, I am sometimes involved in fishing at our nearby river, so that I sell the fish and earn an income. I once went to the river and surprisingly, I managed to get a lot of fish that I sold to earn $10 that day. This income gave me the feeling of happiness because it supported my family for 3 days with food after having gone through a rough week of skipping meals. This is basically what brought joy to my life especially in the last 6 months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
At the age of 26 years, I am already the main breadwinner for our family of 7 members. This is because my father had an accident that dislocated his spine, also affected him mentally. This has forced me to go the extra mile to ensure our family does not go hungry. I am actively engaged in motorcycle taxi riding which earns me $4 per day because the motorbike is not mine. The income is usually not enough to fully cater to the very basic needs our household. Hence, the lack of a reliable source of income is the main challenge that I am currently facing.
