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 ($468 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
For me I do not have any new goals since the one I had aimed for was to start a business more so in poultry farming. I have desired to keep running this business since it is very lucrative but I did not have enough capital. I am so glad that through the profits I earn, I have been able to pay school fees for my children with ease.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a very great job in the entire village. There was no discrimination regardless of the tribe and religious differences. No one was left out provided he or she was a resident of that particular village. We are now owning nice houses, numerous livestock and our children got the opportunity to go back to school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on starting a new business (retail shop) in my village. Since there were not enough shops in my region I thought it would be wise to start one. I am so grateful that for now I am making good returns and I have been able to make good care of my family without straining. I also bought new clothes and shoes for my children since the ones they had were old. Also, I cleared school fees of KES 10000 for my daughter who is in her second year. She is now at peace because the exams were just around the corner and we were certain she would miss them. With the remaining cash, I bought foodstuffs for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes to 10 o’clock in the morning while I was just sitting in my house when I received a message in my phone. Upon checking it was the transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I jumped out of happiness for receiving such huge amount of money for once in my life. Due to the excitement, I decided not to walk out of the house till noon because I didn’t want people to notice what has happened in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially I was working from hand to mouth and sometime I used to go for even 2 days without getting some food. Our living state was not pleasing at all. I can say I was full-time living in the forest sourcing for trees to make charcoal right from as early as 5am to 6pm on daily basis. But since the day I got the store for storing charcoal things have changed. I can now save some few coins for future uses as we are still using the remaining amount we received from GiveDirectly for food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I have been relying on making and selling charcoals, I decided to invest more in the charcoal business. Instead of selling at most 3 sacks of charcoals as I used to sell, I made a store where I am selling several sacks of charcoals. I invested KES 25000.00 in this business. The ideal of opening this store was to have a good and a reliable source of income for my family. I also bought some clothes for my children and saved the remaining amount for my family upkeep.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a good source of income to my family of 3 members. Currently, I am a housewife. This I plan to achieve through practising livestock and poultry farming. I intend to spend KES 90,000 to purchase 20 indigenous goats and 2 chicks and I built a shelter. As the goats and chickens multiply, I will sell them at a profit price. The proceeds I will be getting will be enough to sustain my needs such as food and educate my child who is in lower classes. The remaining transfer will go for modern beddings.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is my happiest part of the day. It is at this time when I prepare meal for my husband so that he can live for work with the hope of him earning and provide for our needs. Unlike in the evening when he is tired and can not enjoy the meals well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is securing a good job. I am a house wife who depends on my husband who works as a taxi driver. His wages of KES 100 in a day is not enough to sustain all our needs such as food, making it hard to achieve my dreams of practising livestock farming.
