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 goal for the coming year and beyond is to invest in goat rearing and poultry keeping, as these projects will help me achieve my ultimate aim of building my own house. I am determined to have a house of my own before getting married, as I do not want to bring my wife to live in a relative's house. To achieve this, I save through our merry-go-round group, which will help me buy building materials more quickly. I also rear goats, and if they multiply rapidly, I plan to sell some and combine the proceeds with my savings to accelerate the construction process. Currently, I have two goats, and I am confident they will multiply over time, providing additional resources to fund my home-building efforts. Living in my uncle's house motivates me to work hard, as I aspire to have a place to call my own. By selling vegetables to my neighbors and using the transfers I receive, I am confident I can purchase more goats, grow my investments, and ultimately build my home while improving my financial stability.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received my transfer shortly after losing my grandparent and needed to contribute to his funeral expenses, so I gave $14 from my transfer. Additionally, I gave my brother $4 after he asked for help to address some personal financial issues. I allocated $60 to my monthly merry go round contribution where we contribute money monthly to support each other. Since I don’t have a house, I am saving my income to buy building materials and construct one. I also boosted my business with $14, as it is my primary source of income, and I regularly invest in it to keep it running. Lastly, I spent $10 on food for my family’s consumption.
24th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to invest in goats. Currently, I have two goats and believe they will multiply over time. As their numbers increase, I plan to sell them and save enough to build my own house, since I currently live in my brother’s house. I sell vegetables to my neighbors, and with the savings I am accumulating and the transfers I receive, I am confident I will be able to purchase more goats and let them multiply. This investment will help me reach my goal of owning a home and improve my financial situation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am currently in a savings group where I save $10 each month. From my transfers, I decided to set aside $54 to invest in goats. I believe this investment is a good idea because goats can multiply quickly, allowing me to sell them and meet my needs. I also spent $15 on new clothes, as my old ones were worn out and in poor condition. As the breadwinner of my family, I used $28 to buy food for us. With the remaining $5, I was able to support my brother, who is currently unemployed at home. His gratitude made me very happy.
22nd 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?
In the next year and beyond, my primary goal is to establish a livestock rearing project. I have always aspired to venture into livestock rearing, but financial constraints and other challenges have prevented me from pursuing this dream. To pursue this, I have been diligently saving for this venture and plan to initiate the project next year once I have accumulated $30.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have always wanted to start a livestock rearing project. In the recent past, I began raising chickens, but unfortunately, they all died due to an outbreak of disease. However, I did not give up. My current plan is to rear goats, and I have been saving towards this venture. With the transfers I receive, I set aside around $10 to $30 each month, and with the most recent one, I managed to save $20 for the project. Also as the breadwinner for my family of four, since my elder siblings are unable to contribute due to a lack of proper income sources, I used the remaining $14.70 to buy food for my family, as our supplies were already depleted. I am always very grateful for the support from GiveDirectly.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 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?
With the invaluable support of the Givedirectly cash transfers, My primary goal is to embark on the journey of building a home, a dream that has lingered in my mind for far too long. Being single, I also aspire to lay the foundation for a family and plan to allocate a portion of the funds towards marriage preparations. Moreover, with the financial assistance at hand, I'm eager to start my career in masonry, channeling my passion into a profession that not only aligns with my interests but promises growth and stability. The coming months hold the promise of new beginnings, and I am determined to make the most of this opportunity to shape a brighter future for myself.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As the current breadwinner of our household, I carefully planned how to spend the transfers to benefit our family. Our father passed on a decade ago, while our mother is unemployed but works hard farming for our food. I have two older siblings who are unemployed. My aim has always been to ease the burden on my mother's shoulders. Firstly, I used a portion of the transfer, $30 to buy essential groceries to sustain our family for the month.
I then distributed the remaining funds to improve our overall living conditions and invest in our future. I spent $8 in expanding my small grocery shop, a venture that has proven to be a source of additional income, earning me at least $13. This not only helps meet our daily needs but also allows me to contribute to the family's financial stability. Additionally, I set aside $30 to purchase livestock, a an investment that I believe will generate more income. Lastly, I spent $20 to replace my worn-out clothes, ensuring my basic necessities were met. I'm grateful for the Givedirectly monthly cash transfer and optimistic about the positive impact it will continue to have on our lives.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
Givedirectly transfers have actualised one of my many dreams. I wanted to start a business and support my mother. I am now a business owner, I own a vegetable stall where I have been able to invest my monthly transfers to. My hope is to get an opportunity to invest more money towards the business so that I am able to eventually build my own home as now I am living in my brothers house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have had a uniform use of my transfers since I started my vegetable stall. I spent on a monthly basis $20 on buying more goods for my grocery business. I spent the remaining amount either buying my mother food or buying chicken to add to my flock, In June I spent $14 on food for myself and my mother while in July I bought three chicken at $10. In August I spent $30 to get new clothes as most of mine are pretty much worn out and I was also able to make a contribution to the food in our home.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
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 goal is to expand my vegetable-selling business and invest more, allowing me to generate a sustainable income and transform my life. I am eager to witness significant growth in my business and achieve long-term success.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I operate a small business selling vegetables such as cabbage, spinach, and onions. I initially invested $20 into the venture, which allows me to generate a steady income to support my daily needs. Additionally, I allocate $14 for purchasing food supplies. Consequently, I now have an additional income source, apart from the transfers I receive from Givedirectly.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My subsequent transfers have greatly relieved us of needless stress. By spending a portion of the transfer of $25 on a goat, I was able to start raising livestock. Moreover, after investing $14 in late October 2022, I have seen a gradual growth in my business over the last three months. My ability to earn $8 daily from the grocery store makes it easy to support my widowed mother in raising our family. Before I started receiving my transfers, this was not the case. I nowadays find it easy to supplement our family needs, buying food and paying my siblings' school fees.
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?
Give Directly has done well, in ensuring that no one in the village was left out but visited and enrolled in the support program. The unbiased decision to have everyone in the village was something that made them stand out. I don’t have any other recommendations.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am born into a family of five children. After my father died, I joined the college of masonry and completed my diploma. I have been running a grocery business for a year. I am the lastborn of the family and my mother depends on me. As soon as I received my cash transfers, I used $17 to add more vegetable stock for my grocery business and used the remaining cash to fix my broken phone. I was happy to fix it because it is my main source of communication in my business.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was talking and killing time with my pals in the compound under a tree. I got a message right away, and when I checked it, I saw that I had gotten my first transfer. I mumbled a little prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord while grinning from ear to ear. I quickly went to my mother's house to tell her the good news, and she was overjoyed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
By enabling me to enroll in driving school, the money has made the largest difference in my life. I'll gain practical skills from this, giving me an advantage over other candidates in the employment market. I am happy that once I get a job, I will support my family and lead a better life without being trapped in poverty.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I was in form three, I droped out of school. I had to drop out of school because my parents were unable to pay the necessary tuition fees. My attempts to get donations to cover my school expenses were fruitless. Since quitting school, I've worked on manual labor jobs to provide for my family (my parents and siblings). I primarily work as a casual worker on construction sites, where I make an average of KES 500 each day. When I got my first transfer, I used the entire amount to enroll in a driving school. I am happy that I'll gain driving experience from this, which will help me find decent jobs that pay well.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a dignified life to me. Through self-employment, I will be able to lead a very comfortable living. Masonry is my profession, I am planning to use 15,000 KES of my transfers to buy masonry tools. With the implements, I will be a very competitive mason, attracting a good number of clients. 10,000 KES is my projected monthly income. This amount will enable me to sort my needs ( food and health care) and those of my mother without an ache.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Even though I am yet to receive my certificate, completing a masonry course this April was my greatest achievement. I was the happiest person because the stonework knowledge will be my gateway to success.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints have undermined my desire to be self-employed. I am a mason by profession. Clients hardly contact me due to lack of masonry tools. I have not been able to purchase them because I have no money. My widowed mother cannot offer me a hand of support because she is jobless.