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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This dream of building a house is far from reached. We took out loans which we used to buy building material but are yet to start the actual construction will take an amount similar to the amount we used for material. I aim to finish paying my loan by October so I am able to take another loan to start construction This will allow us to have a three roomed house to house my wife and our four children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The biggest thing my family has gained from the the transfers is a united family. My wife and I had both contemplated starting construction but our finances were wanting. When started receiving transfers we both joined savings groups which we contributed to until some months back when we took out loans of $400 each to take care of our building needs. I have been able to pay the loans from the transfers as well. I have spent $90 from my entire transfers paying this loan.
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to finish building a home for my family, a project I've been steadily working on. Once completed, I intend to allocate more funds towards expanding my livestock farming. This will ensure financial stability beyond the duration of the GiveDirectly transfers. I'm confident that with these efforts, I'll be able to provide for my family's needs comfortably. I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for the support they've provided.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Over the past three months, I've dedicated all the transfers I've received to purchasing building materials worth $102. I'm in the process of constructing a new home for my family. Our current residence, built during my bachelor days, is old and made of weak materials. Now that I have a family of six, I recognize the necessity of upgrading to a more spacious and comfortable dwelling. Thanks to the GiveDirectly transfers, I've been able to not only invest in building our new home but also acquire livestock and ensure that my family's basic needs are comfortably met. I'm incredibly grateful for the positive changes these transfers have brought to our lives.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With GiveDirectly transfer, I have been able to join a savings group and also expand my livestock selling business. Currently, my aim for the next one year is to build a permanent three-room house. With the current rains experienced in our region, our roads have been rendered impassable. Due to this, I have not been able to start purchasing some building materials as I had planned to though I believe that I'll be starting soon. My hope is to complete the house before the year 2024 ends and I have faith that this is possible since I already have some savings that I am planning to kick start the project. without GiveDirectly's support, I believe that I would still achieve this goal using the proceeds from my business though it will take me a longer duration before accomplishing it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a business man who buys livestock from farmers and sell them in different markets. From my most recent transfer, I spent the all amount, $ 108 to expand this business by buying more livestock and selling them. From the profits that I made, I was able to purchase a goat worth $60. This is an investment to me that I am not planning to sell any time soon since it's a good breed that I would love to keep. Investing in business has always been my way of spending my transfer since it allows me to generate more money within a short period of time.
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
What I hope to accomplish in the coming year and beyond is to construct a permanent residence for my family. We currently reside in an old mud-thatched house that could be demolished if we encounter bad weather. I have set aside a portion of my earnings and transfers to help me reach this objective. I am pleased to say that I have also begun purchasing building materials and I hope to start construction in October. Getting a new home means that I will be leaving behind a secure dwelling and a legacy for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Prior to getting transfers, my business almost went down owing to an extended drought in my region. I acquire and sell livestock from other villagers, then resell them at auctions for a profit. I have four school-aged children who depend on me for their daily necessities. Out of my transfers, I spent $60 to purchase 2 goats which I want to resale later at a profit. Because we hadn't harvested anything yet, I spent the balance of the money to buy food for my family. I am happy and grateful to Give Directly for helping me get back on my feet. My business is thriving and I am able to support myself and my family.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal this year is to build a new house. I have a house but my house is made of mud and is small for my big family. I have a family of 5 living in a small two-roomed house. we do the cooking here because my kitchen fell sometime last year. I want to have a stone-walled house with an iron roof like my peers and also have a bigger three-roomed house to accommodate my still-growing family. I know this project will cost about $1000 but I have already bought some materials and I hope as my animals increase in number they will be enough to sell and handle the construction.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving GD transfers has been a game changer with my business. I am an animal trader, I buy goats, chickens, and sometimes cows from the local market and sell them in the market in the city. My business entails buying animals at a lower price and selling them at a profit. I use the profit to buy more animals and resell and get a profit and the cycle goes on and on. Since receiving GD transfers I have been adding to my money and buying goats which I resell and this has greatly increased my income from the business. I feel supported that now my family has access to food without struggle.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The first thing that comes to mind when I close my eyes is building a spacious house for my wife and two children. Our current two-room structure, built in 2002, is becoming small for the my growing family, and am afraid there will eventually be limited privacy in the house. My wife and I have had conversations around constructing a three-room house made of brick walls and a tin roof. To accomplish this, I require at least $1000, which is hard to accumulate given the other financial burdens, like school fees, that I bear. However, my plan is to use every cash transfer from now on to boost my business of buying and selling goats. Increasing my capital, will enhance my profits and eventually grow savings that will fund the project. I would be happy if my goal would be successful by end of 2024.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a businessman who deals with livestock sales. Because I do this on a small scale, I occasionally lack sufficient capital to expand this promising venture. As a result, as soon as I received my transfer, I prioritized investing in the aforementioned business. I only had enough money to purchase one goat. I was relieved because the transfer allowed me to buy an additional goat for sale. That boosted my livestock-selling business, and my profit increased in December. It would not be the case if it weren't for the transfer from GiveDirectly. As a result, I am grateful to GiveDirectly.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am grateful for the support I have been receiving from GiveDirectly. I am aware that currently there is a food shortage in the country at large and the little which is available is expensive. The transfers have been of help to me and as of now, I already bought four goats with part of the transfers. I normally do livestock business where we buy and sell in the local market, but the ones I bought this time round, were good ones and I felt it wise to rearer than sell. The two cost 6500KES. KES 2500 I added to some of my saving and bought two goats which I have already sold. The business has improved and the profits I make from it help in meeting household needs and even save some.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a great job that was appreciated by everyone in our village. The satisfaction and the great excitement over the results of village investments like farming, improved business, and nutrition are a clear indication of good work done. No one has ever complained, but we are always thankful for the generous support that we get.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We come from a dry area but still, I rely so much on farming. For one to get good farm produce then he has to use improved farm inputs and farming methods. Affording them is challenging because there are no economic activities in our area therefore most people end up using local farming methods leading to poor yields. I dedicated the second transfer to farming by purchasing 8 Kilograms of hybrid maize seed in preparation for planting while KES 1000 I have saved as look for KES 3000 more so that I can hire ox plow to till my farm.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I received my transfer, I felt so good and extremely happy. I had never had such an excitement before in my life. Despite the fact that the transfer was sent when I was almost going to look after my cattle in the field, I opted to assign someone to look after them. As a result, I was able to go and look for an additional livestock, (a goat and a chicken). Thanks to GiveDirectly for its financial aid.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before I begun receiving my transfer, I was almost giving up on the business I had been running for years, selling livestock. I had been lacking some cash to invest in the business for it to bloom. I am delighted that as a result of the transfer, I have learned that I can be able to effectively run it again. In addition, the proceeds from that business will enable me to buy food for my family. Previously I had not been having sufficient food because I did not have money to buy some due to inflation in food prices.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been running a business of selling livestock and chicken during the market days within my locality. However, as a result of low capital, that business has been under performing for the past one year. A situation that drastically reduced my household level of income. As soon as I received my transfer, I spent it on buying a goat and a chicken as the main business commodity for resale. This I did with an aim of promoting my business. Although I bought a goat at KES 2,800, I sold it the same day at KES 3,100 thus generating a net profit of KES 300. I am convinced that if I invest adequately on this business, I shall be able to realize a net profit 1500 per week.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Expanding my livestock business and repairing my house are among my top priorities. To ensure these are achieved, I intend to invest my monthly transfers, utmost 2000 KES every month in the livestock business for a whole year. This will assure me of a high profit, to aid in repairing my house. The other transfers will support my children's education, also, it will cater to my family's very basic needs like food and clothing. Therefore, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a farmer, I keep some goats that I also sell when a need arises. Last month, 5 of them gave birth adding the number to 10. This made me proud as a farmer and hence, I consider this as what has brought happiness to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Last year, we experienced long droughts that caused the death of many livestock in our area. This has directly affected my business because I am forced to walk long distances to get utmost 2 cows. The prices have gone down because the cows are weak and I usually make losses.