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 ($466 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 used to own a small restaurant business where I used to sell mandazi and tea and I would get a profit of not less than KES 500 a day. I closed down this business when I separated from my spouse since my attention was needed at home most of the time. I am planning to revive this business in our nearby shopping centers where I will be near home most of the time. I have already made inquiries, I have gotten an empty room that I will rent and I believe that I will be starting this business very soon once I get money to use in paying house rent.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving us the financial aid that enabled us to transform our lives to the level that we would not have attained on our own. In addition, their officers were polite and had our interest at heart due to the meaningful education that they gave us. I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 30000 to complete the construction of a more permanent house for my family after tithing KES 5300. I settled on this since I had started the construction process using my first transfer but had left it incomplete. I separated from my wife in the year 2013 and she moved on and started living with her new man. I am happy that I was able to spend KES 10000 from the transfer to initiate the divorce process in court and I am glad that I will be free to remarry very soon. Also, I spent KES 3000 to plant some spring onions that I later sold at a higher price and invested the profits more on farming.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was raining heavily in the morning, therefore I could not manage to step out to work, it was around 10 am when I heard my phone ringing upon checking my phone, I was surprised to see a Mpesa message showing that I heard received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly, I was grateful to God for the opportunity that came my way for me to improve my living status. I then shared the good news with my brother.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have been able to construct a decent house, unlike before where I was living in a grass thatched house and I could not afford an iron sheet- roofed house due to my unreliable source of income, I am grateful and happy that I have been able to realize my dream in a short period, It is my prayer that God may continue blessing our donors abundantly so that they may continue touching the lives of many needy people all over the world.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
when I received my transfer I used it in building a decent house for my family, I always had a dream of living in an iron-roofed house but I never had enough finances due to my little income from the carpentry job, therefore I used 30,000 in buying building materials, I saved part of the remaining transfer so that it can cater for other expenses involved while doing the finishing touches, I am happy and grateful that I was able to accomplish my dream.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My ambition has to own a good vending business. I am a carpenter by profession but with my old age it's not a job I can count on for income. In 2013 before my wife left me I had opened a small hotel where she helped in cooking and the profit was $5 each day, but the business didn't do well when she decided to leave. It takes me 4 days to finish a simple table or chairs and I only get a profit of about $3 on good days. This is very little and can not help my household sustain sour basic needs such as food and clothing. That is why I prefer using give Directly transfer on opening a hotel because the profit is better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On my usual days I wake up early in the morning, take breakfast and work at my home depending on the orders. As a carpenter I spend most of my day making different furniture.This aids in getting an income but I am also an evangelist at a near by church. Preaching the gospel on Sunday and seeing people fellowship and enjoying the word of God during my summons gives me satisfactory and I am happiest on such days.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My life hasn't been easy but what hasn't been easy I was diagnosed as an epileptic in my your days and this affected my livelihood. I could not do hard labour and even carpentry was not easy, I would fall sick on jobs and this affected my income. On top of that my wife had fertility issues, we lived for long and never had children of our own. She left and after almost 10 years I had to accept, move on and file for a divorce. But with God's grace I am now fully healed and accepted that the past can not be changed.
