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 this year is to repair the metal sheets on my house. I currently live in a three-room house with a leaking and very old metal roof. Whenever it rains, the roof leaks, forcing us to huddle on one side of the house until the rain stops. It's a constant struggle, especially with my family. To help us have a comfortable space, I have decided to purchase one metal sheet each month. I have been advised that I need approximately seventeen sheets in total, and I currently have three. This gradual approach will allow me to steadily improve my living conditions. Repairing the roof will not only provide immediate relief from the leaks but also bring significant positive impact to my entire family. I am committed to making these repairs to create a safer and more comfortable home environment for us all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a mother of nine children, with six currently attending school, my top priority when I receive my transfers is to ensure their education continues without interruption. Recently, I allocated $40 towards their school fees, securing their place in school. Additionally, I spent $24 on food to ensure they come home from school nourished and ready to learn.In terms of investments, I currently manage a small livestock farm. I have seven chickens, and with $4 from my transfer, I purchased two more chickens to expand this investment. Chickens are advantageous as they multiply quickly and can provide a reliable source of income through sales of eggs and also selling the chicken themselves when they hatch. Furthermore, I believe in the potential of goats as an investment. I currently own six goats and recently invested $34 to acquire another goat. Goats are resilient animals that can multiply and are valuable assets. My long-term goal is to eventually acquire a cow by selling some of the goats, while also using their sales to meet our immediate needs.
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I plan to use my monthly transfers to invest in livestock, starting with goats. This project is particularly beneficial as it provides a reliable safety net during financial emergencies. With the consistent financial support from Give Directly, I aim to gradually build my livestock holdings. Once the goats have multiplied sufficiently, I plan to sell some and purchase a cow. Since buying a cow outright is beyond my current financial reach, starting small and progressing gradually is a more feasible strategy. I am immensely grateful for the financial support from Give Directly, which has empowered me to pursue dreams that once seemed out of reach.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my latest transfer, I allocated $5 to purchase chickens for rearing. This investment in poultry is part of my ongoing efforts to develop a sustainable source of income for my family. Additionally, I spent $54 on food to ensure that our immediate nutritional needs were met.
With the remaining $34 from the transfer, I invested in a goat. This addition to my livestock is a strategic step towards expanding my animal husbandry projects, which I believe will provide long-term benefits for my family's financial stability.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have a small business selling a type of tuna locally referred to as "omena", my husband sells bread. These businesses do not make enough to sustain family needs. My main concern at the moment is my house, it is falling apart and I do not have the finances to build a new house. I would like to use Givedirectly transfers to buy iron sheets which are becoming expensive by the day. As at now I have 4 sheets of iron and I need 16 sheets more. I am planning to use my cash transfers to ensure that this new house is completed and am able to move out of this delapitated space.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In September I had a lot of pending unpaid school fees balances. I used $30 to pay school fees for my five children and used the $4 left for sugar and chicken. In October I got 2 chicken at $10 and bought maize flour at $15. I also got to buy soap and body lotion at $9. In November I got a goat at $25, I bought clothes at $5 and sugar plus body oil at $4. I was so thankful to Givedirectly for enabling me and my family to be well taken care of through this transfers.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 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?
In the upcoming year, my goal is to make a wise financial move by investing my funds in acquiring a herd of goats for breeding. I view these livestock as a shrewd investment for my future. As they reproduce, I plan to sell a portion of them, utilizing the proceeds to meet various needs, notably covering my children's school fees beyond the period of receiving financial assistance. I am genuinely appreciative of the support I am currently receiving, which is greatly contributing to an improved quality of life for me and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am engaged in livestock farming, whereas my husband is employed as a bread vendor. However, the combined income from both of us falls short of covering all our family's financial needs. In light of this, I made the decision to save the $34 I received in August. My intention is to use this money to pay for my children's school fees when they return to school next week. I have a total of five children who attend Ikanga Primary School, with the eldest currently enrolled in Tsangatsini Secondary School. Among the primary school children, only one has an outstanding debt of $10 from the previous term. By paying their school fees in advance as the new term begins, we hope to ensure that they can focus on their studies without any fear of being sent home due to unpaid fees. The support we have received financially has brought immense happiness to my family and significantly improved our quality of life.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 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 main goal is to have a livestock-rearing project. I would want to start with the rearing of goats owing to the fact that they are quite cheaper as compared to cows. Later, I would sell part of them and buy cows to have the different types of livestock in the farm. So to achieve this, I would ensure that after every two months, I buy a goat worth $34 or $35 to start off the project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received the transfers at a time when I was financially down. I have 5 children in school and two of them were required to pay their pending balances, though I had nowhere to get the money from after I had tried all the means I had. But luckily, I received the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly that helped me in paying out the arrears of $21 and finally got a sigh of relief. With the remaining amount of $13, I decided to buy food for my family owing to the fact that there had been a prolonged drought and getting food had been quite a challenge. The transfer was of great help and I was very much grateful.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I plan to own at least 8 goats by the end of the year. Aside from that, I purpose to buy at least two chickens through every cash transfer. The reason for rearing this livestock is to have enough to sell and raise money for the school fees of my six children and support my husband. The little he makes while working at a bakery is hardly enough to buy food and cover school fees for our children as well. My wish is to relieve him of that burden.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I recently received a transfer even though I had school fee arrears for my five school-going children. I was concerned about how I would pay for school fees because my husband's wages delays and I only engage in livestock rearing. This venture does not generate cash immediately. I was able to pay off $20 of their school fees courtesy of the transfer. I am relieved that when schools reopen, I will not have to pay more school fees because the arrears are not as large as they were when schools were closing. I also spent $14 on food that lasted my family of eight for nearly a week. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for such a wonderful opportunity.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving my recent transfer, I spent KES 1,500 on paying school fees for my son. Although he is a bright boy, he is unable to learn smoothly due to my difficulty in raising school fees. My son had a school fee arrears of KES 7,000. His teachers had sent a note requesting for the fee to be paid urgently. It worried me because I knew I could not raise the said amount. Thanks for the timely sent transfer. I spent the other KES 1,000 helping me to pay school fees for my five children in primary school. The rest, KES 500 helped in obtain food for my family. Sadly, supporting my family had been hard after my business collapsed two years ago. I was unable to work because I was expecting.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Since GiveDirectly began working in our village, it does well in giving us some financial aid. There is no condition attached to the cash that it offers to its recipients. Even though we have been so poor to undertake any development for so long, courtesy of the transfer, there are some gradual changes in our village. With the transfer, many recipients have begun to raise livestock as well as pay school fees for their children. So far, I have not observed what GiveDirectly does not do well to us as its recipients.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a housewife and all through my life, I have been fully dependent on my husband for support. Although I have been longing to run personal projects in a bid to support my spouse, this has not been because I do not have my source of capital. I am glad that when I received my second transfer, I was able to set aside KES 1000 which I used to begin raising chicken. At the moment, I have two chickens. This is a project that will allow me to begin keeping goats. As a result, I shall equally be a contributor to the development of my family. I also bought food worth KES 700 from the transfer. During that week, as a family, we were hard-pressed down because my husband's wages had been delayed. The rest of the transfer helped me to obtain books for my 5 children who are school going. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I received these funds from give directly, I was relieved. The previous day I had gone to fetch firewood so I may prepare a meal for my children. In the process, I accidentally hurt my eye. The next day while I was still nursing my pain, I got a message confirming that I had received funds from give directly. This was after my husband informed me that his salary had not been sent yet. Since the children were hungry I used the money to buy food for them
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am a mother of eight children. My husband works in a different town as a casual laborer. He normally supplies bread to shops. On the day when I received these funds, my children were very hungry and I did not know where I would get food. My poultry-keeping business was also not performing well and I needed to buy more chicken to boost it. The profit I get from it helps me when it comes to paying my children's school fees. So, there is a great difference after I started receiving this money. I was able to buy some nourishments for my children. Even though I was unable to buy chicken, I believe with my next transfer, I will be able to add my stock and improve my business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a poultry farmer. This business helps me with supporting my children's education. I always rear them and when they're fully grown, I sell them. The profit I make, I use to pay my children's school fees. So, when I got the funds from give directly, my first plan was to buy 6 chickens. But the funds came in at a time when my children were hungry and my husband had not gotten his salary yet. Instead, I used the funds to buy some food for my children
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My plan is to split the first transfer into two; 600 KES to buy food and the other 600 KES to buy 6 chicks at around 100 KES each. The subsequent transfers will help me do more of poultry farming and repair my house which has a leaking roof.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The short rains in December brought a lot joy in my life because the dams around were filled to the brim. Before that, I used to buy two 20 litre jerricans of water every day at a cost of 100 KES which we used sparingly. This together with transport cost amounted to 200 KES. The rains therefore brought a sigh of relief.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The drought situation has really affected me because it makes life very expensive. Without rain I have to buy maize flour, vegetables and other kinds of food. Furthermore, I have nothing to sell from my farm inorder to pay school fees for my children and satisfy other needs.