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?
In the upcoming year and beyond, I have two main projects in mind. Firstly, I plan to invest my funds in purchasing livestock, particularly goats. Additionally, I aim to construct a larger house for myself. Currently, I live in a small, one-roomed house, but my ultimate goal is to own a two-roomed house. To work towards this objective, I have begun purchasing building materials gradually, using a portion of my GiveDirectly income. I am also saving a portion of the transfer in our merry-go-round to help me acquire additional items needed for construction, thereby speeding the process. Once the house is completed, I intend to use my funds to purchase livestock, specifically goats, to ensure future financial security. I am hopeful that these goats will multiply and increase in number, allowing me to embark on another project in the future. This initiative will be advantageous once the GiveDirectly program concludes, as I plan to utilize the goats to support my future endeavors. Ultimately, my goal is to find a life partner and start a family once I am financially stable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I plan to construct a larger two-room house with a verandah because my current one is too small. Once I build my dream house, I will give my younger brother my current house since he doesn't have one. I received a recent transfer from GiveDirectly, and I used $45 to pay my monthly merry-go-round contribution. I intend to use these savings to purchase more building materials to expedite the construction process. Additionally, I bought two iron sheets for $18.50. The remaining $38.50 was spent on purchasing shoes, personal items like bathing soap, and clothes because I didn't have enough.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently reside in a small, one-roomed house, but my long-term aspiration is to own a two-roomed house. To achieve this goal, I plan to build a two-roomed house by the end of the GiveDirectly program. Once the house is complete, I intend to utilize my transfers to establish a kiosk and start a vegetable selling business. Additionally, I hope that my goats will multiply and increase in number, allowing me to start another project in the future. This project will be beneficial once the GiveDirectly program concludes, as I plan to use the goats to support my future endeavors. My ultimate goal is to get a wife and start a family and provide for them, and I believe that these projects will help me achieve this aspiration.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been striving to build a two-roomed house, as my current one-roomed house I am living in is too small as I have plans of starting a family. To achieve this goal, I have been gradually purchasing building materials, as I cannot afford to buy them all at once. I therefore used $48 of my transfers to buy iron sheets, which I now have accumulated to 9 pieces, with a target of 20. Additionally, I spent $24 to purchase a goat, hoping that it will multiply and become a reliable source of income in the future, which will enable me to start other projects. Finally, I allocated $30 to buy airtime for my cell phone, purchase some nice clothes, and other personal grooming items to enhance my overall well-being and make me feel good about myself.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am current seeking sleeping arrangements from my brother's house which is very uncomfortable for me especially during the days that he is at home as he is based in the city. Not a having a house of my own has also impeded my wish to get married as I cannot do so without having a house of my own. My main aim therefore is to ensure I construct a house through the help of these transfers as I do not have a stable source of income. I have so far acquired 8 iron sheets and have 12 pending approximating to $120 as I intend to construct a house consisting of 20 iron sheets. I will continue to set aside $10 of my monthly transfers towards this project or more than that whenever possible as I also continue to support my family as well as taking care of my personal needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At the moment, my financial stability relies heavily on the transfers I receive, which are crucial in meeting my basic needs, advancing towards long-term aspirations such as building my own house, and supporting my family by ensuring access to essential necessities.
To achieve my housing goal, I have adopted a plan of allocating approximately $10 from the monthly transfers towards acquiring building materials, specifically one iron sheet at a time. Additionally, I capitalize on opportunities to purchase chickens, which are relatively inexpensive, costing around $5 each. These chickens serve as a strategic stepping stone towards acquiring larger livestock. Through a prudent process of accumulation, I leverage these initial investments in poultry to gradually expand my livestock holdings, ultimately growing my financial resilience and contributing to the realization of my broader goals. Through this process, I have so far accumulated 4 sheep and aim to achieve even more.
14th 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?
My priority is to complete the construction of my house. It's been a dream, and these transfers have given me the means to make it a reality. Additionally, I intend to invest in livestock rearing, starting with buying sheep and reselling them for profit. This will pave the way for me to purchase a dairy cow, sell milk and establish a sustainable source of income. I will then open a shop in the village, selling fast-moving items and further enhance my financial prospects.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Life has taken a significant turn since I began receiving the GiveDirectly cash transfers. I live at my uncle's place, which has been uncomfortable for both of us. I always feel like I'm a burden to him, inhibiting his own life plans, including marriage. With $50, I was able to purchase iron sheets and started constructing my own house. This will not only provide me with a sense of independence but also relieve my uncle from the responsibility of accommodating me.
Recognizing the struggles my family face, I spent $25 to buy food. My father's income as a casual laborer is not sufficient to cover all our needs, especially with five siblings, two of whom are still in school and fully dependent on him. Finally, I invested $20 in buying poultry for income generation and with a balance of $7 purchased some personal items. The cash transfers have transformed my life, allowing me to contribute to my family's well-being, and enjoy the freedom of purchasing my own belongings.
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?
My main goal is to have my own house. Considering my age, I always feel like it is high time for me to own a house because I have been sleeping in one of my uncle’s house, a situation that had never been so good to me. I have started saving for this project and I want to ensure that going forward, I would be buying materials every month and having them in place so that by the end of August this year, I shall have been done with the project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family has no reliable source of income and due to this situation, we have been surviving on the little income that my father manages to get though it had never been enough. On the other hand, considering my age, I always feel like it is high time for me to own a house because I have been sleeping in one of my uncle’s house, a situation that had never been so good to me. Therefore upon receiving the transfers, I managed to buy food for my family worth $15.70 because little that was remaining was almost finished. I also bought a chick worth $3 for rearing and saved the remaining amount of $16 for my house construction project. I have been so grateful for the support so far.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been adding the monthly transfers to my savings and this has enabled me to buy iron sheets every month. I have been staying in my uncle's house for years despite being of legal age. Currently, I am planning to build my own house where I will have the freedom to develop myself economically, like livestock keeping. My goal is to continue buying iron sheets every month and other building materials in order to commence the building process.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfers on buying iron sheets and chickens that I am currently keeping on my homestead. I have been staying in my uncle's house for years, and my dream is to build my own house. I am buying the materials every month, and my objective is to accumulate enough materials in order to facilitate the construction. Having my own house will ensure that I enjoy my own privacy and have the freedom to develop myself economically, like keeping livestock in my own compound. I have been adding my monthly transfers to my savings and have so far managed to buy 7 pieces of iron sheets. Currently, I am targeting 34 pieces of iron sheets, timber, and building poles. I am also raising chickens, which I also acquired through transfers. I am expecting to sell them and raise money for the construction in the near future.
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 view, GiveDirectly does well in alleviating poor communities from poverty. It gives cash transfers without strings attached, as a result, the community can freely decide on what to do with the transfer. The cash allows many people to focus on their pending goals. I have begun to buy materials for building a new goal. However, I have not observed that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Even though I am not married, I have always wanted to own a home. I have been sleeping at my late uncle's house the entire time. It is old, and in disrepair, so I just put up with it because I do not have another place to live. I purchased an iron sheet for $9.5 immediately after receiving my transfer. So far, I have purchased two iron sheets and plan to construct a 28-iron sheet roofed house. I spent the rest on food to supplement what we had. I felt honored and responsible for contributing to meeting some of our family's needs. As a result, it felt good to help my parents provide for our family of six.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The minute I realized that the transfers had actually come, I was filled with so much excitement and this is because I was really struggling financially at that moment and I almost felt like God had literally heard my prayers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This time around nutrition had been quite challenging for me and my family and this is be to drought whoch has really taken a toll on us and then on top of that the cost of living has also gone very high that is why making ends meet has been difficult as well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon realizing that I had received the money I decided to deal with the most vital thing that we needed in the house for me and my family,and that was nutritionn. Therefore I ended up buying five packets of maize flour because their was hardly any food in the house. As for what I was left with which was KES 200, I ended up spending it on sugar and airtime.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm living in this village with my parents, not yet married. I haven't had any job or business since I dropped out of school in 2018 due to lack of school fees and have only been helping my parents out with their businesses like charcoal burning. I have also been keeping sheep as a way of saving the limited resources I'm able to get over here. When I get this money, I shall have redeemed my dignity by building my own house so that I do not have to sleep at people's any more. I plan to spend 35000 KES on that project, amount I'll either save up or buy materials in bits until completion. It will be a great joy to finally own a house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It's been depressing over here to live without any source of income to such an extent that I can not even pin point any happy moments in my recent past. But right now I'm happy at the prospect of getting these transfers because I already have plan to increase my stock which will mean more saving for me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I'm struggling with lack of income which is why I haven't build my house yet. I dropped out of school in 2018 and over the time I have not had any employment or business that I can generate income from to be able to carry out big projects that I have always had in plan like building a house. But it really feels good to have these transfers because I know I'll buy more livestock that I can keep and resell in future whenever I have emergency.