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 ($441 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal was setting up a shop in my village to supplement my income. I'm currently working on it by doing extra jobs on the side to get capital to start one.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly does not discriminate. Everyone in my village was able to benefit from the program as compared to other government projects whereby only a few people would benefit. I'm truly grateful for the opportunity. May God bless you all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had previously saved the first transfer,so I topped it up with the second transfer to start my chicken rearing business. I'm glad to report that it is doing very well despite the various challenges. I was also able to install tap water into my compound allowing easy access to clean water for me and my neighbours.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the afternoon and I had gone to help a friend with some activity when I got the SMS confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and thanked God when I received the money because I had suffered so much especially with getting regular water for domestic use as well as my income generating activity of horticultural farming. I couldn't afford to have these addressed because my casual job in ballast mining hardly raised enough to enable me to do so. Therefore, I was so happy and grateful to receive this kind of help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that I used to have a house with weak walls but I now have one with reinforced walls with concrete pillars. I didn't have livestock before but with the coming of GiveDirectly to our village, I was able to get some that would even help me to meet my family's immediate needs. I am so grateful and happy.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 20000 to set up tap water in my compound because it hadn't been raining and the dams had dried up which forced us to depend on tap water which occasionally underwent supply interruption. This tap water close home will help me especially in my income generating activity of horticultural farming and will substantially save me from having to travel far in search of water. I needed a regular source of income and in this, I got one which makes me so grateful to GiveDirectly because it is the first step in moving my life forward.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been working as a casual laborer at a mining site since I was married 5 months ago. The job is tedious and it has brought health complications to my body. My dream has been to run a small business ( shop ) but due to insufficient funds, this dream has never come to pass. Receiving this money means fulfilling my longing. I am planning to spend KES 50,000 on the start. This will generate income for my family of 3 members. In a day I can make an approximate KES 400 as profit. Also, I will spend the extra amount to construct a house for my child so that he can have a separate structure as he grows up.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It was in October last year when my younger brother managed to purchase a motorbike for business. This brought a lot of joy to me because it is an additional source of income in our family. At least he assists me in providing for family needs such as food.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Securing a good job is the biggest hardship I am experiencing. I work as a casual laborer and the job earns me KES 400 in a day. The wages are not enough to sustain all my family's needs such as school fees. This problem has made me struggle a lot to clear both the fees for my siblings and my children. Also, my health condition is not good. I am suffering from chest pain and this sometimes affects my daily activities.
