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 ($436 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We don't have a consistent household income, thus it has been difficult to meet our needs. I intend to open a roadside food stand to help my spouse with our household necessities and stop this. Food is typically in high demand, increasing its profitability. Not only would this increase our household income, but it will also make me independent.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The unconditional cash transfer made everyone in the village happy because it allowed them to spend the money on whichever way they saw best for themselves. I am grateful that the organization's officers were able to enroll homes without showing any prejudice and that we were guaranteed equal payments that were transferred right to our accounts. As at now there is nothing that the organization is doing poorly. Everything about it is fantastic.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For an investment purpose, I spent $190 to purchase four goats to be raised. If I ever find myself in need of money, I will sell part of the goats. We rely on my husband's occasional work because we do not have a consistent source of income, so it has been difficult to meet our necessities. Since he does not earn much from it, our kids' school clothes were worn out and they owed back payments to the school. I spent $50 using the transfers to pay off the debt and get them new clothes for school. I still have $60 in savings, spent $17 on a new mattress to replace the old one, and spent the remaining $21 on enough food to feed our family for some period.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
it was very early in the morning around 6 Am, I was cleaning my house and preparing for the day. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I informed my helper and she checked it out. I felt so happy when she said it was a message confirming that I have received some money from GiveDirectly. I knew I would be able to purchase building materials and build a spacious and decent house for my family. We stayed for two days and went to withdraw the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Building a better and more spacious house for my family is the biggest difference in my daily life. We lived in a small house that could not host all the family well. I had always wished to own a better house but I did not have the money. I depend on selling charcoals to earn some money to meet my family's basic needs and pay school fees for my children. I had no extra money to purchase the building to build a better house for my children. When I received the transfer from GiveDurectly I felt so happy and found this an opportunity to build a house. I was able to purchase all the necessary materials and build a nice and spacious house for my family. Currently, we live so comfortably and whenever we have visitors we no longer shy off from welcoming them home. I am so happy for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standard to be much better than before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent half of the money to purchase all the necessary building materials and build a better and more spacious house for my family. We lived in a small house that could not host all my family comfortably. This was so stressing and demoralizing as well. Currently we have a decent and spacious house and we live well. I bought a goat at a cost of KES 5,000. This is one of the projects that I had always wished to start. I am so grateful and I hope to keep it well. I spent KES 2,700 on school fees for my children and the rest of the money I bought clothes, shoes, bedding and household items that we were lacking at that time.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
This money will help me regain my privacy and protect my children from all sorts of danger. I'm planning to build a house that can accommodate at least three rooms; my bedroom, children's bedroom and a sitting room. Currently I live in a round one roomed house that is small and grass thatched. The house has walls smeared with mud as Well as floor. It is small in the sense that I can only have two beds inside for me and another one for my four children. The rest of the ten children sleep in a what could have been an external kitchen; a four by three feet house that is lacking one wall. This exposes them to all sorts of danger and it's been always my wish that I protect them effectively as a parent should. It still pains me that I have not been able to do that.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was very happy in the month of December when I made good sales of charcoal. It was a festive season and so demand for the product was too high with most venders offering us as high as 600 KES per bag of charcoal. Again during this time I mostly got my payments promptly which is rare in this business.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My challenge is lack of a reliable source of income. I have ten children; four are attending local schools while the rest have not yet started. This is partly because of lack of school fees as you might have notice we do not have any economic activity that can earn us good amount of money. Here in the village I majorly burn and sell charcoal which can earn me up to 1500 KES weekly on the higher side. This is not enough to feed my family and pay school fees for my children. It costs about 2700 KES for all of them in one academic term.
