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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of five children; three are currently in school, and the other two are not yet of age. To support my family, I burn and sell charcoal to my neighbors in the village. Education is incredibly important to me because I want my children to have a good life. Recently, with the transfers I received from GiveDirectly, I spent $102 to ensure my children's school fees were paid on time so they wouldn't be sent home and their education wouldn't be interrupted. When I don't have enough money, I often sell my chickens to make sure my children can stay in school.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently live in a two-room house. My goal is to build an additional room for my sons, who are currently in school. I believe it's important for them to have their own space once they finish their studies. Living with grown men in the same house doesn't feel right to me, and I want them to have their own place. To achieve this, I plan to purchase metal sheets gradually and store them until I have enough to start building. I am confident that with the financial support I receive from GiveDirectly and the income from selling charcoal, I will be able to reach my goal of providing a better living arrangement for my family.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 6 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband is the sole provider for our family, which includes our three school-going children. He does not have a stable source of income and depends on buying and selling charcoal, as well as selling beef door-to-door. Providing for essential needs like food proves challenging with this work. As his wife, I am grateful that cash transfers enable me to support him financially. From the recent funds, I spent $68 on the school needs of my two children, covering tuition fees, new school uniforms for my daughter who was joining Form One, books, and transportation to and from school. Seeing them attend school for the last two months has brought me immense joy, with cash transfers playing a crucial role in ensuring it. I also used $34 during the Christmas holidays to purchase celebratory foods, bringing happiness to my family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Secondary school fees are expensive, and I have two children in Form One. The initial year of high school incurs higher expenses than subsequent years. This year, my focus is on their tuition fees, with the cash transfers proving helpful and alleviating the burden on my husband as the breadwinner. Starting next year, I plan to invest in buying livestock and constructing a house for my children. I feel sharing a sauce with them is becoming inappropriate as time goes. It would be more convenient if they had a separate area as they grow older. Additionally, I aim to continue raising goats; presently, I have eight. As they reproduce, I intend to sell them in the future and purchase a cow.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a charcoal seller, I burn old tree stumps for charcoal and normally I sell this to my neighbours and other local buyers. It takes about two weeks to make a full sack of charcoal and this can only make you about $5. My husband collects bones from butcheries to sell too. This also does not make much as sometimes he can make about $6 weekly. This is not sufficient to take care of our needs and cover our investment plan. I have bought goats in July and September at $30 and $15 respectively. I bought iron sheet in August and September for $22 and $11 respectively. I also paid school fees for my children, $4 in July, and $10 in August. I also bought some African Fabrics and paid for the tailoring of this.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As I said I do not make much and so I cannot plan for things that are beyond our daily needs such as food. My house, though it has three rooms accommodates 7 members. I have older children who I feel need their own place to stay. I am working on building another house which they can live in separate from me and my husband which will ensure their is some sort of privacy.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES
access_time 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Using the June transfer I received from Givedirectly, I purchased a goat for $30, which joined the eight goats I already owned. This acquisition not only enhances our livelihood, but also provides a future source of income as we can sell them when the program concludes. The proceeds from their sale can be utilized to meet any unforeseen needs that may arise. The remaining portion of the transfer was used to buy food for my family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I intend to acquire a minimum of five additional goats for investment purposes in the near future. Subsequently, my plan involves constructing a house for the well-being of my children. Presently, we reside in a one-room dwelling with my five children, consisting of three boys and two girls. The construction of this house will provide a sense of privacy and comfort for my children.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of six children.Three of my children are in primary school and one is in college. The only thing that gives me joy is seeing my children being in school working hard towards all their goals in life. The moment I received my transfers, the first thing that really came to my mind was paying my children's school fees. I took $10 and paid my children's school fees and $10 to the other two children in my boarding school. I bought two chickens for $10 so that they can hatch and I sell them to make profit. The remaining amount of $2 to stock food for my children who are at home and ensure they are eating well.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The unconditional transfers I received from GiveDirectly are one thing that has enabled me to be where I am today. I was able to purchase ten chickens with the help of the monthly transfers and I am currently praying for them to hatch so that I can sell them and buy more goats. With the goats, I can sell them for more money and alter my family's entire economic structure. I am extremely grateful to GiveDirectly for everything.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used $18 of the September transfer to purchase a goat(kid) that I plan to rear before selling it, $4.5 for two chickens, and bought two packs of maize flour at $4.5. I produce charcoal for a living and my husband takes it to the market. A sack costs $7.2 and within a week we sell three to four sacks. The money is spent on food. I have nineteen chickens and five goats that I rear at home both for domestic and commercial use. I sell them whenever I need money to pay school fees for my four children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly gives us this money with no strings attached which makes it easy for us to uplift and improve our lives without fear. It is God-sent.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Unfortunately a day prior to arrival of the money my three children and actually being sent home due to the fact that I had failed to pay their tuition fee, but luckily for me and for them as well the following day the donateon came in and I ended up paying KES 1,100 for their tuition. I then proceeded to use KES 1,000 in buying iron sheets because I had planned to buildd a home for two of my teenage boys because our house was small and could barely fit all of us. I was left with about KES 900 which I ended up purchasing three packets of maize flour and cooking oil with since there was no food left in the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
In this instance I was really happy that I finally go to settle tuition for my kids because were it not for me receiving that money when I did, they would have probably stayed home for a couple of weeks which would have led to them lagging behind when it came to their education.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was actually fetching firewood that evening when I noticed the arrival of the money and instantly I was filled with happiness because who would not be happy to receive money and also from the mere fact that is was completely unexpected.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a mother of 5 children, I have faced a lot of challenges in terms of meeting our needs. The main source of income that I most depend on is the charcoal work, a very tiresome job, and its income is usually low, mostly 1200 KES in a month. This money is spent on food and sometimes caters to hospital bills for my son who is epileptic. I am always left wondering how I can conduct a better living. Therefore, I consider financial instability as the main worry that I am currently struggling with.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the many challenges that I am currently facing in my life, I am so grateful for the effort that my husband and I have had to ensure we never miss at least 2 meals per day. This has helped even my children to have a good time in school and I expect that they will produce good results. Thus, I consider this as what has brought me joy.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Restoring my lost dignity is what matters a lot to me especially when I receive this money. I have been sharing a house with my grown-up children which is not allowed according to our Giriama norms. This has robbed away my joy as a mother and I have wished to break this status quo. I intend to spend a better portion of my transfers to ensure I construct a separate house for them. To offset this plan, I need to accumulate my transfers to raise utmost 35000 KES. This will bring back the respect that I have lost for a long time and hence, this is basically what receiving this money means to me.