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?
owning tailoring shop, have enough stock for customers to am saving in merry go round-with gd transfers-once established i will bwe able to invest in poultry and had passion
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have not yet obtained a sewing machine to start my business. Therefore, when I received my most recent transfer, I saved $30 in our merry-go-round savings group. My plan is to use my savings once they reach $150 to buy a sewing machine. Additionally, I spent $20 on food because my house was running low. I also paid school fees $15 for my brother, who was about to be sent home due to an outstanding balance. With the remaining amount, I spent $13 on clothes to ensure I look presentable. Finally, I bought a goat for $24, supplementing it with some of my other savings to meet the required amount.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Owning my own tailoring business has been a long-standing dream of mine. With the savings accumulated from my transfers, I plan to purchase a sewing machine and finally bring this dream to life. It's a venture fueled by passion especially after going to college and pursuing a tailoring course, a desire for independence, and I'm determined to make it a success. Looking ahead, I envision using the profits from my business, combined with my transfers, to invest in real estate—a piece of land on which I'll build rental houses. This represents not just a financial investment, but a step towards long-term security and stability for myself and my loved ones. The prospect of realizing these goals fills me with hope and excitement.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I've always harbored a dream of owning my own tailoring shop, a business that would not only sustain me but also fulfill my passion for creativity and entrepreneurship. To bring this dream to fruition, I've been diligently setting aside a portion of my transfers for savings. Recently, I allocated $40 from my transfers towards this goal, earmarking it for the purchase of a sewing machine, a crucial step towards realizing my aspirations. With each step I take towards my dream, I feel a sense of fulfillment and excitement and I'm grateful for the progress I've made thus far. However, amidst pursuing my own ambitions, I remain mindful of my responsibilities to my family. I set aside $20 to ensure there's food on the table, knowing that hunger should never be a worry for my loved ones. Supporting my younger brother's education is also important to me. Allocating $25 towards his transportation back to school after the holiday break reflects my commitment to his academic journey and future success. Finally, as a lady I used the remaining $17 to buy personal self-care items to help me with my day to day life.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 8 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 unemployed, despite possessing tailoring skills. In an effort to utilize and enhance my abilities, I am in the process of planning and initiating my own tailoring shop. My goal is to acquire a sewing machine and essential textile materials for this venture, and I have been diligently saving my income towards achieving this objective. In addition to pursuing my entrepreneurial aspirations, I have taken on the responsibility of supporting my six siblings, who are currently enrolled in school. I aim to ensure that their education remains uninterrupted, recognizing the financial challenges faced by our parents, particularly my mother, who grapples with the burden of school fees on her modest salary as a kindergarten teacher. My plan extends beyond personal success to contribute to my family's well-being. Not only do I intend to assist in the education of my siblings, but I also believe that establishing the tailoring shop will have a positive influence on our family's financial stability.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past year, I have been saving my transfer with the aim of purchasing a sewing machine. As a skilled tailor, my goal is to open my own tailoring shop. To meet this objective, I have set aside $34 from my recent earnings. The main purpose of establishing the business is to provide a stable source of income that can help my mother, who has been struggling to support our family of seven with her modest earnings. In addition, I have allocated $35 to cover the admission fees and shopping expenses of my younger brother, who has recently enrolled in high school. I spent the remaining amount to purchase essential food supplies to ensure that our family remains well-nourished. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their transformative impact on our lives. Our household has faced challenges in affording both food and school fees for my six siblings. My mother, who works as a kindergarten teacher, found it difficult to meet our needs with her limited income. Thanks to the support we received, my siblings are now attending school without the fear of food scarcity. I am also confident that once I establish my tailoring shop, I will be able to contribute significantly to our family's well-being.
14th 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?
Once I complete my studies, I am eager to dive into the world of tailoring. I dream of having my very own shop, where I can weave my creativity into unique clothing designs and bring my fashion ideas to reality.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am currently in a tailoring college, which I joined last year. The moment I received my transfers, I used $20 to pay my school fees.I saved the remaining amount of $14 so that, after I complete my studies, I can easily have enough money to buy a sewing machine and materials.
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 goal is to set up my own business. After I shall have completed my tailoring course, I would not like to be employed by someone else and instead, I would want to set up my own tailoring sh and be my own boss. With the transfers that I would be receiving, I would ensure that I buy livestock every month and sell them in the future to get the start-up capital of $30.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been planning to invest part of my transfers for my future needs. I am a student currently undertaking a tailoring course, and I would want to have my own business once I am done with the course, but with no savings or any source of income, seeing myself through this would not be an easy thing. Therefore with the transfers that I received, I managed to buy a goat for rearing worth $20 and would sell it in the future to get me the required start-up capital. With the remaining amount of $14.7, I decided to spend on food since getting money for food was also a great challenge owing to the fact that I have a large family of 8 and I was so grateful for the support.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 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?
I intend to continue saving up until I reach my goal of buying a new sewing machine and being able to start my tailoring shop. I'm hoping that the money from the business will allow me to help my parents in paying for my sibling's education expenses and to invest in goats by buying them to raise.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the firstborn in a family of four children. My parents are farmers as well as casual laborers at times, but this does not bring enough money to sustain us it has been difficult to raise enough cash to cover all of our home needs. After finishing my secondary education, I enrolled in a tailoring course to gain some knowledge which I completed last year. I got employed as a house-help manager afterward where I earn $50 monthly. With this, I can help my parents in providing for some basic needs. With my previous four transfers that I have been receiving, I have been saving up $20 monthly which I intend to keep saving and buy myself a sewing machine that costs $150. At the moment I have managed to save up $120. The remaining cash of $14 that is left over each month is what I have been using to buy food for my family.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly empowered my community tremendously. I was able to achieve the goal that I had in a short period. We are forever grateful for the unrestricted cash that uplifted our lives. The organization does wonderful work, hence I have not seen things that were not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I completed a training in tailoring this year, though I was not able to pick up my certificate due to school fees arrears. This was so discouraging because it meant that I could not look for a job. It revived my hope when I was enrolled into the program because I knew that I would be able to offset school arrears, thus upon receiving my transfer, I used $20 on the arrears then thereafter; I bought foodstuffs with the remaining $10. I am relieved and grateful to have accomplished the goal that I had in a short period.
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?
The highest amount of money I ever handled before was KES 1000 whenever my mother sent me to the shop but I have never owned such an amount of money. When I received the first transfer, at first I thought that someone had erroneously sent it to my account. I was afraid to withdraw it expecting the owner to call me so that I could send it back. I was on my way home from college so when I got home I shared the news with my mother asking her whether I should send it back. It was until she checked the message that she was informed that the money was from GiveDirectly. You can imagine how excited I was to learn that it was all mine. This was one of the happiest moments of my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being the firstborn in a family of six, my mother who is the sole breadwinner has always prioritized my younger siblings whenever it comes to paying for our school fees. I am in college while the other six are still in primary school hence they have to be given first priority so that they can get to my level. In most cases, I have missed attending lessons due to huge arrears that I have always owed the college. I am glad I was able to pay for part of the arrears with the first transfer. I only owe the college KES 1500 which I will clear with the next transfer. Being able to attend lessons regularly is the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We are seven children in our family. Six are still in primary school while I am in college. My mother who is the breadwinner in our family is a preschool teacher in one of the schools around, but she does not earn enough money to sustain our needs because she is not employed by the government yet. At the time when I received the first transfer, I owed the college KES 2500. I, therefore paid KES 1000 to reduce the arrears. I am glad through this, I was allowed in college. I also bought a packet of corn flour worth KES 170.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Im a single lady still living with my parents. I finished my primary school education a year ago but did not get good grades and so my mother decided that I should join college to gain some practical skills. She has been paying my school fees ever since I joined a year ago at 3600 KES per academic term. This is quite expensive on her given that she's still the one who is paying for my four brothers in primary school and also providing for our family. I have four months to finish my training but I have already accumulated areas. When I get this money I'll be able to offset this and keep paying for the following term.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was very happy when my mother decided to give me another chance after failing in my end of primary school education examination. She felt I still needed to acquire skills that I can use in the future to earn money and so she enrolled into a village polytechnic where I'm currently taking tailoring course.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest challenge is the fact that I do not get to learn continuously ever since I joined the polytechnic because I'm always home to collect fees areas.My mother who is an ECD teacher pays for my education but it has proven a little too expensive for her and she's currently straining.