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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a mother of three children, my top priority when I receive my transfer is their school fees, which I spent $15 in settling it. For my children to have a comfortable learning environment and enough food when they return home, I spent $19 on purchasing food for our family. Recently, I was feeling unwell, so I sought medical attention in Mariakani, spending $34 on treatment and drugs, which thankfully helped me recover, thanks to GiveDirectly. With the onset of the cold season, I replaced my worn-out sheets with four new ones, costing $18, providing warmth during chilly nights. With $16 remaining, I invested in three chickens, hoping they hatch and eventually exchange them for goats.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently selling fish at home, with my main goal being to invest in goats. Presently, I have five goats, but since goat prices are currently high, I have opted to invest in chicken while waiting for prices to decrease. I am keen on investing in goats because they multiply easily and can be exchanged for cows, which will assist me in preparing my land and, I can easily rent out the cows, providing me with an additional source of income.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my husband losing his job, our financial stability crumbled, and I found myself struggling to provide for our four children. Determined to maintain a sense of normalcy, I allocated $34 of the transfer to purchase festive clothes for my children, a tradition we had always upheld as a family. It pained me to see their disappointed faces knowing we couldn't afford it, but thanks to the GiveDirectly transfers, I could ensure they had something special to wear during the holidays. As the burden of our financial strain weighed heavily on my shoulders, I utilized another $34 portion of the cash transfer to pay school fees for three of my children. Without this, my children would have been forced to stay home due to lack of school fees. With the remaining amount, I invested $30 in livestock and used the remaining $4 to kickstart a small business. These ventures will help generate income. The support from GiveDirectly has been invaluable, offering us a glimmer of light in our darkest hour.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As I look ahead to the coming year, my primary goal is to expand my livestock herd and invest in ploughing bulls. By doing so, I aim to reduce the expenses associated with ploughing, saving $56 to cultivate my two-acre land. Additionally, I plan to rent out the bulls for ploughing services, creating a sustainable source of income. Once my sons transition into adulthood, I will build them a house providing them with a sense of independence. I am grateful for all that the GiveDirectly cash transfers has enabled us to achieve.
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When my husband lost his job at a bakery four months ago, he returned to the village and started a small business making and selling donuts. His income significantly decreased, and it became challenging for him to cover the household expenses, such as food and school fees for our three children. This led to the accumulation of tuition debts at the school, which is why I used $30 to clear them all. I'm pleased that my children can now attend school without any interruptions. I also used $34 to purchase a goat, bringing the total number of goats acquired through the transfers to three. Having goats provides me with a sense of financial security for the future because I can sell them to meet my family’s needs. Additionally, I hired an ox-plow for $24 to plow one acre of my land before planting, as the rainy season has just begun. I spent the remaining $10 to buy a pair of khanga clothes since I had been wearing the same one repeatedly for outings.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to use livestock as an investment and a source of wealth. Currently, I already have three goats from previous cash transfers, and I aim to continue acquiring more until I have at least nine goats. After that, I plan to trade some of the goats for two bulls. These bulls will help with plowing activities on my farm and can also be hired out to assist others. Currently, I have to pay for plowing services, which can be expensive, but I hope to have my bulls in the future to provide this service even when I don't have money.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We started a savings group when Givedirectly came in as a way of supporting each other to achieve our goals. We usually save and give cash to each of us at different times as in merry go round so that we can actualise that which we have envisioned. I personally have wanted to venture into business but I have not been able to do any business due to lack of capital. Now I can plan towards meeting this vision. I want to start a grocery stall which I hope will grow to a general item shop.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The rains have just been a blessing to us. I am also happy to receive the transfers since they have come in handy this rainy season. I have tilled two acres of land since April. I spent $24 in April to till an acre of land and in May I used $12 to till half an acre. I bought seeds worth $8 in April and in May I got seeds worth $7. I also bought 3 chicken worth $9. I paid school fees for my eldest at $18 and my youngest at $12. I also contributed to my savings group $4.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers in December came in during the festive season, I spent $16 on buying clothes for my two children and 2 traditional clothe locally known as "leso" at $10. I also bought food that we cooked during the festivities such as wheat flour, sugar, cooking oil which cost $8. In January the transfers came during the school opening period I spent $18 to pay school fees for my children who are in class 4 and 5, I also used $14 for my child who was joining school for the first time. I also saved $4 in my local savings group. In February I got a goat and a chicken. I bought them at $30 and $4 respectively.
clothes-1600
wheat flour-400
2 lesos-1000
Oil- 250
Sugar-150
January
2 children- fees- class 4,5- 1800
new student- 1400
Saved, chama- 400
Feb
Goat-3000
Chicken- 400
herder
husband works in a bakery
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am an animal herder for our family flocks. I do not make any money herding and hence I do not have an income. When I heard I will be receiving money from Givedirectly I decided that I wanted to start something that could help me earn. I have a goal of venturing into chicken business. I want to use some of my transfers to build a chicken coup and then buy chicken and keep them their. I know this is a good business since the chicken I bought in February has already hatched and has 10 chicks now. I want that this chicken can grow in number and I am able to sell them and get profits. This will make me financially independent since all the money I use I keep asking my husband who works in a bakery in the city. I also want to be able to educate my children through this business.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mixed farmer who primarily raises livestock. I chose this option because crops suffer as a result of unpredictable rainfall patterns. Goats do well in our area and fetch a high price during the holiday season. As a result, they can assist me in caring for my six-member family. I had ten goats before my recent transfer. I spent $30 from my recent transfer to purchase an additional goat. Because I do not have a formal engagement, I always spend some time looking after my livestock before embarking on my daily household chores.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
There are several positive changes that community members have witnessed since GiveDirectly began working in our area. The unconditionality of the transfer aids in the improvement of our way of life. We are not limited in what we can buy, so we concentrate on our immediate needs. Furthermore, we have not seen cases of insecurity caused by transfer because no one knows who received the transfer and when. The use of a mobile money payment system necessitates this. All of these are key things that GiveDirectlt does well. In my view, there is nothing GiveDirectly does not do well.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We have four children, two are in primary school while the other two are still young. We rely on my spouse who works at a bakery in town while I stay in the rural with our children taking care of our goats. In most cases, he does not provide fully for us on time leading us into debt. By the time the first transfer was sent, the children had been sent back home due to the school fee arrears of KES 800. I do not have any source of income, so we had to wait for their father to send us some money although he was not in a position to raise the amount at that time. I, therefore, cleared the arrears with part of the first transfer and used the remaining KES 350 to purchase food for our household. I am glad the money was of great help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is being in a position to pay for my children's school fees. I felt proud chipping in to assist with their school fees. It has always been my spouse providing for us because I do not have any source of income. His salary can not sustain us for a month and therefore, had it not been for the transfer then the children would not have gone back to school. They would have probably waited till the end month when my spouse would earn his salary.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Most of the people had received their transfers earlier in the morning while I did not. I, therefore, kept checking my phone anticipating the good news. At around 9 pm as we were getting ready to sleep, I got a message notification and since I do not know how to read, I took the phone to my neighbor for assistance. It was then that he informed me that I had received the money. It was such a joyous moment! I slept peacefully knowing that my children would finally attend classes the following day.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are faced with difficulties in getting uniforms and raising school fees for my children. My husband works in a bakery in town. He earns a monthly salary of 10 000KES out of 3000KES goes to rent. The remaining cash has to cover both his needs and ours hence sending home less than 4000KES every month which is mainly spent on food. Owing to this financial challenges, the children are lacking school uniforms and we currently have a fee arrears of 1600KES for the two school going children while we have not been able to enroll the second last child.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I was married, I never slept on a spongy mattress. A traditional bed, made of twisted ropes with a rugged mat and worn out bedsheets are what we have been using. It was more difficult to endure especially when I had to share the bed with my baby, burrowed at the bottom of the loosely intertwined ropes. Life changed when we finally bought a bed and a mattress in early January. Since then I have the luxury of enjoying my sleep.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
The cash will help me in paying school fees and purchasing of school uniforms for my three children. I managed to enroll two of them and the other one has to wait until the next academic year since we currently do not have the 1000KES for registration and 1200 KES for uniform. Receiving this cash will therefore help in paying school fees and also my children will lack not basic needs. I plan to save 1500KES every month towards the school requisites while the other cash will be spent mainly on food.