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 ($517 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I did not have a spacious house to accommodate my children. I managed to build a new spacious and iron roofed house which I am currently living in with my family through this money. I also have some livestock that are assets to me which I can readily rely on in case of a financial problem.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done well by coming to us and giving us the transfer. We have been able to build ourselves and also meeting our financial goals that we were finding it hard to achieve. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of the money on buying building materials in order to facilitate the construction of a new house. Initially, my previous house was in a bad state but I managed to build a new iron roofed house using the transfer. I am also operating a food kiosk in our village. I thus invested KES 10000 by purchasing enough stock of foodstuffs so as to as serve many customers and to increase my earnings. I saved the remaining amount in our merry go round from which I can even obtain a loan that will ensure that my business runs smoothly and increase profitability.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I was earning a daily income of KES 1000 from my restaurant that I operate in my village. Ever since I received this transfer, my daily income has risen to KES 2800, because the transfer has enabled me to buy enough stock to run my restaurant. To me, earning a better profit from the restaurant business is the biggest difference in my daily life, for it has enabled me to meet my daily basic needs and other household needs with less struggle.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the transfer notification at 2 am in the morning. I was curious to know who could have sent a message at that hour. As I went through the notifications, I realized that the message was from GiveDirectly informing me that I had finally received my first transfer. I could not contain the joy that filled my heart that day. I was thankful to God and to GiveDirectly for the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
The current house that I live in is very small and in a deplorable state because Its roof is dilapidated and the presence of huge cracks on the wall increased its probability of collapsing. I have been unable to renovate it because meeting the cost of buying materials is expensive for me due to my meagre income. Therefore, I spent a larger portion of my transfer on purchasing building materials such as iron sheets and other building materials for constructing my new house. I am grateful to GiveDirectly because it's through their financial support that I will soon have a new spacious house. Apart from building a house, I spent the remaining amount to buy more stock for my restaurant which I operate in my village. Its the only source of income that I depend on and my goal is to earn better profits from it. I am happy that since I received my transfer, my business is doing well and my income has greatly improved. I used to earn KES 1000 daily, but now my daily income has constantly increased to KES 2800, which to me is a great achievement.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My hotel business has been struggling ever mainly because we depend on it solely for the household upkeep. It has always been my desire to expand it and maybe stock other commodities that are of high demand, something that never materialized due to financial constraints. Once I receive my transfers, I will ensure that is actualized. In addition, my house is old and leaking, therefore, I will build a better one that befits the status of a village elder. The one am currently living in is embarrassing and subject my family to cold whenever it rains.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day starts as early as five in the morning. As demanded by the nature of the hotel business, breakfast should be ready by seven. My wife has been supportive in this, and in most cases stand in during the day while I herd livestock at the grazing field. On average, my morning all through into the afternoon is always busy. It is only in the evening when I get quality time to rest. And that makes it the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
For a village elder like myself, one would have high expectations since I tackle most of the village issues, yet in a real sense, the struggle out here is so tough. Financial constraint is the biggest hardship I'm currently facing. I'm running a small hotel business at the nearby shopping center and the returns there is hardly enough to meet the educational needs of my two children who are in secondary and college levels. The journey thus far has not been easy, I sold almost all of my goats. Am remaining with only two from the previous tribe of twenty. Once I receive my transfers I will replenish my earlier tribe because was it not for them, my children would all be school dropouts by now. Again I haven't been able to build a house something that I will look into once I get my transfers.
