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 ($468 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I wanted to put up a house renting business and the transfers I received enabled this. I also wanted to start a shop where I would be able to sell items. This was to be included in the building which had the rooms for tenants to rent out. I had hoped the houses would give me the money I would use towards setting up the shop. I had no land to build on but I had identified a piece of land that I was hoping I would buy using these transfers. I was also aiming at buying goats to start animal farming.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I like that I can make decisions on my own with these transfers. I like that I am not instructed on what I should use with my money which gives me the chance to make decisions by understanding what would best work for me. This is a very good thing about give directly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first transfer went into putting a down payment of the land that I wanted to build on. I spent 20,000 shillings which was half of the land’s worth, I was also able to use my second transfer to cover the other half of the payment to make sure I had cleared that debt. I bought 84 posts worth 8,400 shillings for the building process. I bought 20 pieces of iron sheet worth 800 shillings each totaling 16,000 but since the building required more iron sheets I added 15 more sheets which cost me 12000 shillings. I paid the fundi 20,000 shillings for his services and now the building is all finished and has two tenants who pay 1000 shillings a month. With the first transfer I got a ghost at 2600 shillings and the remainder of the money for both transfers went into purchasing food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Being a lady plumber, I was in my daily work of digging trenches to repair some water pipes when I received the transfer message of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I was so excited hence took a short break to compose myself before proceeding with my work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The main difference in my life is that I am seeing my dreams coming to fulfilment. My aim was to have an income generating project apart from the daily works I am doing for some wages. Through GiveDirectly this dream has come to pass. I am looking forward to the second transfer so that I do more projects to secure my children future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After withdrawing the money, I bought a plot of land so that I can start doing some business. The plot was being sold at KES 40000.00 but I agreed with the owner and I paid a deposit of KES 20000.00. I also bought 20 pieces of iron sheets for KES 16000.00, poles and rafters for KES 6400.00 so that I can start building business structure. I also bought a goat for KES 2600.00.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means proper shelter for me and my daughter. I currently live in a tiny one roomed house which is only enough for a single bed. I cook outside and only a few of my belongings can fit in. I plan to build a two roomed house which is spacious enough, at a cost of KES 50,000. This will be good for me since I can also host my visitors inside the house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a casual labourer, my job involves interacting with many people especially in construction sites. I am mainly accompanied by my friends and we laugh and share a lot. This makes me happy unlike the evening hours when I am all alone with my young daughter.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest hardship in my life. It been two years since I harvested something from my farm. This is because of persistent drought in this region. Livestock are dying and water pans are dry. It takes one a half hours from my home to get to the nearest water pan. The water there is also not clean. For clean water, I have to spend KES 50 so as to get a 20 litre jerrican. Life is very expensive. I am a single mother depending on casual jobs which pay as little as KES 300 a day. All this goes into buying food and water leaving me with no extra money to support other needs.
