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 ($420 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?
Currently, I have a goal of starting a charcoal-selling business. I chose this kind of business because it has less competition since it is a handful of people who are doing it. The aim of this business is income generation because most people are selling charcoal in small quantities at most three sacks. I want to buy them from the ones who burn them so that I can sell them to retailers for distribution. I would like to flag off the business as soon as I get some money.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is incredibly compassionate. With the money they donate, my community and I have been able to achieve far more than we ever could have anticipated. The payment was kind and considerate. You have our lifelong gratitude.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $150 on a young dairy cow when I received the second transfer. The purpose of purchasing the cow was to produce milk for both personal and business purposes. My secondary school-aged child was then sent out of school for fees, and I had to pay $100 in school fees. Right now, he feels at ease adjusting to school and starting his academics. I used the remaining $120 to purchase some food and kept the remainder for the family's maintenance.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($511 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 AM when I was heading to the shop when a message tone come through my mobile phone. I decided to ask one of my relatives to check the notification of the message. I was shocked and overjoyed after realizing it was from GiveDirectly. I definitely knew that I will achieve a lot through the transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest in my daily life is that I am now proud and happier after constructing a decent house. It has been my wish to build a decent one but I could not afford the materials for the renovation leave alone those for constructing a new one. Therefore getting a new house was not easy since I only depended on casual jobs which could only enable me to cater to the family's daily bread and cater for a few household expenses. I am now sleeping under a nice iron-roofed house which is well plastered which initially whenever it could rain I had to seek shelter from my neighbors.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets, building poles, threads timber, and nails. I had to purchase all these to construct a new house becasue the previous one had a leaky roof with cracked walls. Later on, I used KES 7000 to pay the Masson as his labour fees. Also, I bought a goat that will serve as an asset that I can lean on anytime. To add that I cleared school fees arrears for my son who is a secondary school and I am now glad he is studying without disturbances. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuff for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Many people in our village have transformed into an iron-roofed house, but this has remained an unfulfilled dream to me due to the financial challenge that I face in life. I am forced to live in a small structure that is not worthy for a human being to live in because it even lacks a door and I am always worried that I risk my life to wild animals. My plan once I receive this money is to spend utmost $300 to construct a spacious house for me and also that can spare me from any danger of animals at night.
On the other hand, I intend to buy 10 goats with my second transfer to start livestock keeping that will act as my long-term investment project. This will change my life for the better and hence a transformed livelihood.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My morning and afternoon hours are always busy moments for me since I am required to be cutting some logs of trees or even uprooting roots that I use to make charcoal. This means I spend the better part of my day doing this work. It is only in the evening when I get ample time to rest and also share a meal with my son when he is back from school. Therefore, the evening becomes the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
At my age of 62 years, the only job I am still actively engaged in is charcoal burning in order to pay school fees for my son and also to buy food. This job is very tiresome and in most cases, I complain of body pains but since I don't have the option, I am forced to doing it if at all I have to provide for our needs. Therefore, the lack of decent work is my biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.
