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 ($436 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have the intention of building some rental homes on my unoccupied land in the upcoming year. Because we live close to the market, building rental properties is profitable due to the great demand. We are hoping the money from it will increase our household's income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Since the majority of recipients of cash transfers spent it in ways that best met their needs, in my opinion, this has improved the appearance of our town. Thanks to the assistance from Give Directly, there are no longer miserable homes and starving children. Additionally, calling us after we receive the money is a nice gesture on their part because it makes us feel valued and taken care of.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $300 renovating my poor structured home. The roof was old and had numerous holes in it while the wall was constructed of mud. We could not afford a new house, so we were forced to remain there. We did not feel safe living in there because it had a reed door and it frequently rained. I'm happy that it now has a new face that is more safe, reliable, and decent thanks to the support. In addition, I had no consistent source of income; the only thing I could do was burn charcoal for sale, but the money I got from that was very little. As a result, I invested $130 to launch a small-scale business selling fuel, primarily to motorbike riders. Since then, our household's income has increased, and we no longer face financial hardship. The remaining $90 I used to buy groceries for my home.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($463 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home preparing porridge for my grandchild. I still remember it was around 5 pm when I received the message notifications on my phone. Because I am illiterate and could not understand the SMS, I had to wait until the helper returned home from her work. After arriving home, she verified the account balance and informed me that it was the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt very happy for receiving the money which marks the beginning of a better life for our family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being able to enroll my kid in a driving college is the biggest difference in my daily life. Previously, I lack the financial capacity to take him to any college after completing his secondary education. I am very positive that he will stand a chance to secure a good job after completing his studies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For many years, I have been living in a small house without a proper door. I was constantly living in worry since all our documents and household commodities were not safe at all. After receiving the transfer, I spent KES 10,000 to purchase a new metallic door and used KES 1500 for putting it up. In addition, I used KES 10,000 to enroll my youngest child in a driving college since I had no money to further his studies after completing the 12th grade. Furthermore, I used KES 15,000 of the remaining amount to seek medical care because I was involved in an accident that left me with a fracture on my limb. At the moment, I am feeling well after the medication and am positive that I will be able to recover fully.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a safer house for my family. I am a widow, my husband died over 2 years ago. Life has been tough since my spouse departed this life because I was left with 2 children to take care of. I depend on a charcoal-burning business that earns me as little as KES 3000- 4000 per month. This money is very minimal to cater to all our family needs. My house is in bad condition; the walls are almost falling off and water seeps under the roof during the rainy season. This creates unfavorable living conditions for my family and it's a shame to me especially when I receive visitors. To get out of this situation, I will use KES 40,000 to build a two-bedroom house with an iron sheet roof. This house will be spacious enough and decent to accommodate my family comfortably. The remaining amount will be invested in my children's educational needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My son completed his secondary school education in the month of March. This really brought joy to life. This is because the money that I used on paying his school fees will be saved and cater to other household expenses. I felt relief from the burden of paying his school fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge that is currently facing is providing food for my family. This is because of the low rainfall in the area. It's been over 3 years since we had ample rains. I am only depending on a charcoal burning business that earns me as little as KES 3000-4000 per month which is not enough to fully support all our needs. Sometimes I fail to put food on the table something that stresses me a lot.
