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 ($527 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that I have a running business. When I received my first transfer, I was able to purchase two donkeys and a cart for use for transport. I am glad that I make averagely KSh. 500 per trip to transport farm produce or water. The income from the transport business helps us in meeting all our family's daily needs. I am also glad that my two children joined high school with minimal challenge as the second transfer paid all my children's school fees and all materials needed when joining high school. I honestly do not know how I would have managed without these transfers. I will forever be grateful for GIveDirectly!
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I loved that everyone in the village was taught and given all the needed information. I am also glad that GiveDirectly was fair as every household who deserved got the transfers. Everything, in my opinion, was done well, I would not change anything.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I paid two of my children's school fees using part of the second transfer and bought some school items using the rest.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($537 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Because of the poor roads in my rural home, we as residents rely on donkeys to transport water and farm produce among other things. I know how costly this has been for my family thus upon receiving these transfers from GiveDirectly, I decided to buy two donkeys and a cart. I am so glad this has given me a business opportunity as well as serving my domestic needs. I am already enjoying a good business opportunity that has improved my daily income. Owning my donkeys and a cart means financial independence. I am glad as I am now self-employed and because of enjoying the profits alone, I have been able to cater for the family's daily basic needs on time and remain with something to save for other investments.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message notification indicating that I had received money from GiveDirectly early in the morning after I had woken up. I became so happy and gave thanks to God for using GiveDirectly to uplift my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent most of my first transfer to buy two donkeys and some steel to use in making a cart. I settled on this so that I can be using it to carry loads for people around in my village for the exchange of money. I arrived on this since we have a poor road network thus I knew doing this will be a profitable business for me. I will be using the income from my work to cater to my children's school fees and other household needs. Also, I used the remaining amount on my family's basic needs mainly food and other household expenditures.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Buying 2 donkeys and a cart is what receiving this money means to me. One donkey cost ksh 15000 and a cart goes for ksh 25000. My husband who is a mason struggles a lot in providing for our family since it has never been a guarantee to get a job at the end of the day hence the donkeys will ensure financial independence in our family since we will use them to transport produce from people's farms to their homes and to the markets.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Waking up healthy every morning makes it the happiest part of my day. After taking breakfast, we usually plan for the day's activities with my spouse after the children have left for school. Saying a word of prayer for my him before he leaves for work is so fulfilling since it gives him hope that he will be able to secure a job that would earn us some income by the end of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My spouse who is a mason earns an average of ksh 200 per day whenever he manages to secure a job and whenever he is unable to get one he comes back home empty handed, which makes it a struggle in fulfilling the needs of our family. It has always been our wish to venture into our own income generating activity that would ensure guaranteed source of income, thanks to GD our dream of buying two donkeys and a cart for transportation hire will soon come true.
