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 ($518 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different because, before the transfers, most of my neighbors knew that my children were never going to be dropouts. But after receiving the transfers, I have ensured that my son who was through with primary has joined high school, and two who were to join campus have also joined even though late I believe it better late than never.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am grateful for the support that GD has offered to my village. This is the greatest support ever witnessed in our community. I have never seen such kindness ever since I was born. It has never been better.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
The second transfer was spent to pay school fees for children one who was joining college and the other was enrolling for high school which I could not have managed if I was to bear the burden all alone. The remaining amount I spent in the household to purchase foodstuff for my family. This has been of great assistance.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I was living in a house in which was in a very bad state. Its roof was dilapidated and not spacious enough. It was an old house that was beyond repair. When I received my first transfer, I bought building materials which include 30 pieces of iron sheets, building poles, nails and timber which enabled me to build and finish my new house. To me, living in this new house is the biggest difference in my daily life. I never knew it could be this soon. I thank God for bringing help through this organization.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had woken up ready to the day's activities when I heard a message alert tone. When I checked who the sender was and the contents, I was surprised and happy at the same time since GiveDirectly had sent the transfer they had promised. I thought they were giving us empty promises. I was amazed by their sincerity and generosity and I will always thank them for coming to our community and choosing me as one of their beneficiaries.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Building a new house has been my greatest desire because the previous house was in a very bad state. I always wished to build a new one but it always looked like a distant dream. Its roof was dilapidated and whenever it rained, it was even worse because everything could have been rained on. This troubled me and my family because we were forced to seek shelter elsewhere. I did not have enough resources to renovate it since I was a casual labourer and we always survived from hand to mouth. When I received this money, I purchased building materials, which include 30 pieces of iron sheets, building poles, nails and timber which has enabled me to construct a new decent house. I also took KES 12000 to pay for my son's college fees so that he could be allowed back to school. I spent the remaining amount to buy some foodstuffs and cater for other household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Having a proper shelter has always been the wish of the family. The situation of the house that we currently reside in is dire. It is a single room that hardly accommodates all of us. Receiving this money will, therefore, enable us to construct a better house and equip it with the necessary items. Apart from that, I have a child who is in college, and I feel this transfers will come in handy. It has been a real struggle to keep him in school due to finances and it is a sign of relief to him knowing that attainment of his dreams will never be an uphill task anymore.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. We spend most part of our day out there looking for casual jobs that can at least earn us an income and we always yearn for the evening so that we can rest and hang out with our children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of sufficient resources has been the biggest hardship in my life. My husband and I do not have any reliable source of income. We previously dependent on agriculture, but unfavorable climatic conditions have been the greatest hindrance. At the moment, we survive on casual jobs that are hard to come by. As a result, we have not been able to sufficiently meet the needs of the family. Once we receive our transfers, we intend to invest in livestock rearing, particularly the indigenous goats because they are not labor-intensive and breed at a higher rate. Again our focus is education for the children. That will improve the situation of our household.
