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 ($467 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?
Upon confirmation of the transfer receipt, I first built a new and more spacious house as per my initial plan. This is because my previous house was in pathetic condition. Immediately I accomplished this goal, I developed an additional goal of initiating a saving scheme that will be very helpful to me in terms of being able to easily raise money for my children's education. I have been struggling with fee payment and I have resolved not to go back to my olden way of waiting for the last minutes to begin looking for my children's school fees. Building up my saving towards supporting my two children will help them to learn with minimal interruptions.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own view, GiveDirectly does so well in practicing none discrimination while enrolling recipients in its program. It embraces transparency and openness at all stages right from registration to follow-up stages. This is made eminent in that those who do not qualify for the program, are made aware of why and no one can blame any person for their disqualification in the program. It also does well in doing a timely follow-up in order to learn the impact the transfers have on the communities where its programs are carried out. There is nothing I have observed that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my second transfer to buy 7 goats for KES 15,000. Previously, I did not have even a single goat and this used to bother since almost all my friends within the village have livestock they can sell to raise some money in case of emergency. It was so unfortunate and a disturbing situation in my life. However, I am grateful that out of the transfers, I have begun to raise livestock. Furthermore, I used a total of KES 8,000 to pay off school fee arrears for my two children in an academy. I am more at peace than before because they are currently studying comfortably. Last but not least, I spent KES 7500 to acquire food while the rest of the transfers had gone to building up my savings.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($513 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when I received my transfer I felt so excited and thanked God for the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is having constructed a new house that is safe and secure to stay in. It feels so great to sleep in a secure house with lockable door.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My previous house was in a bad condition, better part of both the roof and walls had fallen off making it unsafe to stay in. I, therefore, bought building materials which I have already used to construct a new house. Part of the money I spent on food stuff for the family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a great boost on my children's educational needs. Being illiterate and jobless, I have wished to educate my children so that they may have bright future and good life in order to break the poverty cycle in my family. My sixth born is in class eight and is about to join secondary school and the other 2 are in lower classes. My plan is to save 250 dollars for paying his school fees and to do some shopping. The remaining amount will assist me in construction of decent shelter because the one I have is leaking and is about to collapse.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of day being a charcoal vendor I spend my mornings and afternoon working. I return home in the evening extremely tired after a whole day of working, I used this time to relax my body while chatting with my kids this relieves me from the daily stress.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been my biggest hardship in life. I am casual laborer doing charcoal vending to support my family of 4 members. The income from this job is 1.5 dollars per day which is not enough to feed us as well as educating my 3 children. This has forced us to skip 2 meals per day due to lack of food.
