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?
Earlier this year, my mother fell very ill and needed immediate medical attention. We were prompted to ferry her to the nearest health facility, which takes an hour's drive from our remote village. So I deducted KES 1500 from the transfer to fund for transport. From the recently received cash, I directed most of it, KES 1000, towards buying roofing poles for the new house I am building. Also, I acquired three chicks worth KES 750 as an addition to the existing brood. Finally, I used KES 400 to buy food and paid off debts at the store with the remaining amount.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the 3rd transfer of KES 3000 from GiveDirectly was a great source of joy to my child and I as I was able to get some clothes for the both of us worth KES 2000, spending the remaining balance of KES 1000 to purchase food stuffs to sustain us.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I have personally seen growth in my day to day life as compared to before and I am quite happy that I came to contact with GiveDirectly because the transition and sustainability it has provide has impacted my life positively and I am glad that finally I will get to fix my house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My house happened to collapse some time back because it was not stable and I really wanted to rebuild it because the entire time I was being hosted by my brother in his home while I waited until the time I got some money so that I could start building and that is why I bought timber worth KES 2,000. I also went ahead to buy five packets of maize flour which was worth KES 500 because hunger was also a predicament due to the lack of rain.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I delayed in seeing the message because my phone was charging but after noticing it, I was very happy because two days prior I had incurred some minor injuries due to a motorcycle accident that I was involved in and this meant that I could take my self to hospital and get treatment and also assist in fixing the damages to the motorcycle because this is where I earned my living and helped in taking care of my family with.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Among one of the biggest difference would be the fact that I was able to cater for my medical expenses because after the accident I had multiple bruises and a twisted arm as well , so the transfers could not have come at a better time if I do say so my self. Plus a quick recovery would me I would go back to work and continue in trying to provide for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
During the time the money was transfered to my phone I had outstanding debts because my job is being a motorcycle taxi driver so two days before that I had got into an accident and suffered some minor injuries so when the money came in I took my self to the hospital and got treatment and some medication which cost me five hundred shillings but I had initial debts on my phone so I was only able to access eight hundred kenyan shillings from the money that was sent to me of which some of it was used for my medication. The motorcycle was also borrowed from a friend and due to the damage incurred by the accident I was involved in, I paid two hundred kenyan shillings.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a motorcycle taxi operator who is employed. At the end of the day, I pay KES 400 to the motorcycle owner. My profit at the end of a good day is roughly KES 300. My desire has always been to own a motorcycle of my own so that I can maximize on the profit. With the money from Give Directly , I can now comfortably buy my own motorcycle on credit. Receiving this money every month will be of great help. I plan to save money from my first five transfers and add my personal savings to get a total of KES 20,000 to serve as the deposit amount. Once I secure the motorcycle, I will be paying 2,400 every week and by the end of 7 months, I will be fully owning it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I earn more from my motorcycle taxi business in the morning and evening hours. This is because I ferry more clients who are rushing to and from work. This are the times that I am usually happy because money is all that counts for me at the end of the day. It is through money that I will get food for me, my mother and my siblings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I am facing now is unemployment. I am the third born out of 9 children and my father passed on ten years ago. My mother who is unemployed had to shoulder all the burden of raising us. I had to drop out of school 2 years after the passing on of my father due to lack of school fees. I am a motorcycle taxi operator and the little I get ( approximately KES 300 a day) goes into supporting my younger siblings who are still in school. This leaves me with no money to build my own house and start income generating projects that will earn me good money.
