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 ($432 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 long-term goal is to get a job that can take care of my family, preferably in the big city of Mombasa. My friend works as a cleaner in the city and he promised to find a job for me.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well sending us money directly into our accounts. Also, the use of Mpesa is very useful because we can withdraw money anywhere anytime.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I did not complete my primary education due to a lack of school fees. My parents are farmers and most days they eat from hand to mouth. I am also a farmer, I take care of my neighbor's livestock getting $30 a month. I buy food for the whole household, I have four siblings that depend on me and my parents. Receiving this money has enabled me to build a house, and buy furniture for my new home and I still have some money in my account for rainy days.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($465 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
One evening, as I was resting at my home after a hard day of sourcing for a living, I received a message on my phone. Since I do not know how to read, I consulted my sister-in-law who is also my helper to read and interpret the information sent. After the confirmation, it turned out that I had received the first transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I became the happiest man of the evening because receiving such an amount of money at once was my first time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The main difference that I feel if it were not for GiveDirectly it won't have happened anytime soon is getting my own house. For several years, my work has been herding people's livestock and the wedges could not even support my living. This is an indication that, if it were not for the organization I would have stayed in my brother's house forever.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After withdrawing the money, I opted to build a house because for all that time I had been living in my brother's house. Thus, I bought 18 pieces of iron sheets for KES 18000.00, 45 poles for KES 3600.00, and 140 rafters for KES 700.00 and I cannot clearly state the contractor's charges since my helper was in charge of that. Thereafter I used the remaining amount to buy some personal effects.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since my wife left me 20 years ago because I was not able to pay her dowry I have been frustrated in life. She left when I was living in a house that was almost collapsing due to the instability of the pillars caused by ants. Unfortunately, it fell a month after her departure. There was no reason for me to build another house since I also had no children or wife to look after. My life was shattered and this made me feel like an outcast because everyone thought that I was mentally unstable. My stepbrother allowed me to live in his house because he stays in town with his family. I am thankful to him but I feel like I have a void that I still need to fill and that gap is a house. I have been housed for many years now and it is high time that I also have a place I can call home. Receiving these transfers will therefore help me have a roof over my head. I plan to spend half of the money on building the house and save the other half in case of any emergencies that may arise.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have been living in my brother's house for 20 years with the hope that someday I will be able to have a place I call home. GD has finally made me see that hope coming true and this has made me very happy I cannot wait to start receiving the money so that I can kick off the project of building the house.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My main challenge is lack of a source of income to help me take care of my obligations. As much as I do not have a family to take care of I also have my burden of responsibilities and without finances, it is not easy to do them. It is frustrating and stressful that I cannot even buy food to feed myself which most of the time leaves me with no other choice but to depend on my siblings.
