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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly has done extremely well in supporting us with cash donations. This will improve my life and help me in achieving my dreams. Even so, the organization could do better if they found a way of ensuring everyone gets the money at the same time, as in my case, I failed to get my transfer for this month and I am quite disappointed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to work as a motorcyclist. So, in the need of owning my own motorcycle, I bought one on a hire purchase agreement. I had already paid more than 70% when the business was not doing well, I failed to pay for a while so the company repossessed the motorcycle. To keep fending for my family, I started repairing bikes. My daily earnings are around KES200. Due to a decrease in my earning rate, I was late on my payments, especially the children's school fees. So, when I received the funds from give directly, I used KES500 to reduce the fee arrears to KES900, spent KES500 on the food budget, and finally, I bought my children a solar panel to help them with their night studies.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at my workplace at around 9 am with my friends just telling each other random stories while waiting for customers to transport. Immediately I received a text message notification on my phone. I looked it up and realized that I had received the transfer. I was very happy and a big smile was all over my face. My friends noticed it and asked me about it. I gladly told them that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has so far changed my life in a big way. During the hard times when I am not able to raise enough money to pay off my debt, the transfer has helped me seek out that. I was happy that once I am done paying off the date I will fully own the motorcycle and I will use the money I earn to start other income generating projects. This will greatly help me change my life for the better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Immediately the Corona pandemic hit the country I was among the casualties in terms of losing my job. I went back home and started doing manual jobs. The pay I got from the manual jobs was very little and I was unable to support my family with the little I earned. So then an idea came and I decided to go and purchase a motorcycle on credit. I was given the motorcycle and started doing business of ferrying passengers from one place to another. The business has been picking up slowly and I am happy that I am now self-employed. Since I pay for the motorcycle weekly, I at times struggle to get enough money to pay and at times I have to sacrifice the number of meals my family eats per day so that I can be able to pay the debt. When I received the transfer I was very happy. I spent KSH 500 in paying off part of the motorcycle debt and also used the rest of the money in doing some service on the motorcycle.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My wife and I share a one-roomed house with our two children. As the children grow, the pressure of constructing a bigger house so that we all live comfortably and have more privacy is mounting on me. When the transfers start coming my way, I intend to save 2,000KES every month for the first two years. 24,000KES will aid Genesis in constructing a two-bedroom house here in the village. It will make me very happy.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Recently, I disagreed with my wife's family. The bone of contention was their daughter's dowry.
Traditionally, I had not done any of the important procedures and to my knowledge, they felt like I was not keeping my end of the bargain.
We came together with my parents and decided to use some of the family savings to start the dowry payment process.
Both families are at peace now and I'm happy about it.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My parents are dependent on me. I am an only child. Whenever I step out of the compound to go work in the motorbike business, I have to remind myself that I have two families to feed. My own as well as my parents. That means I have to work extra hard to make ends meet.
I am deep in debt. I took a motorbike on loan, I have to pay 2,817KES per week. Between raising money to pay off this loan and feeding my people, I'm left with no money. I feel like this burden has become too heavy and I do not know how to lighten it.
