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 ($525 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because I have been able to expand my business. Due to this, my profits has increased and I can now cater for our daily needs with less struggle unlike before. Also, I have been able to build a spacious house for my family that can accommodate us comfortably. This would not have been possible had it not have been for GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well by giving us unconditional money and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I spent some amount to buy some building materials to use in building a kitchen for my family. I settled on this since I do not have a kitchen because I destroyed the one that I had in order to build a house there. Also, I expanded my business by restocking my shop. We decided on this as a family so that anyone who comes to buy in my shop can get everything the need without them having to go to other shops.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($528 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I no longer worry so much whenever it rains. This is because we have been able to use the house which was previously our bedroom as our kitchen. Due to this, my children no longer seek shelter from our neighbors, especially at the moment as it is a rainy season in our region.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I realized that GiveDirectly had honored their promise by sending us the money after waking up. I had been stacked with ideas of improving my life that could not be realized due to the lack of funds. I was filled with happiness as I knew that I would be able to achieve a lot of things using the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent most of my first transfer in building a decent house for my family by buying some building materials majorly timber, poles, nails, iron sheets and also paid a mason for this work. I decided on this since my kitchen was in a dilapidated condition as its grass-thatched roof was leaking during the rainy season. Due to this, my children used to seek shelter from my neighbors during this rainy season. Our current house which we are using as our bedroom and living room will serve my family as our kitchen and bedroom for my children. I spent the remaining amount to buy clothes and foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We used to run a shop business in our home until it collapsed due to financial constraints. Profits we got from the business could not sustainably address the ever skyrocketing household needs. Receiving this transfer will mean a resuscitation of this business to its operation so as to finance our children's secondary education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a beans farmer. This kind of crop requires intensive care for maximum yield. I spend my entire day tending to my crops from morning till evening. When I arrive home in the evening, I would find my children already out of school and it relieves me interacting with them after a tiresome day. This is the happiest part of my day knowing they would help with household chores.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
For a long time, maize farming has been the main cash crop and source of livelihood in my community. When maize die due to soil borne diseases and army worm infestation, we are forced to sell livestock and other assets for our children's fees and household necessities especially foodstuff. This is the third consecutive year of lack of good harvest thus we have continued to sell our properties. These desperate attempts have condemned us to the brink of poverty and this the hardship we have always faced.
