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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently work as a motorcycle driver and my main goal is to own my own motorcycle. Right now, I'm using a motorcycle owned by someone else and paying them $4 each time I use it. This leaves me with very little money for myself, let alone for my family. Due to the increasing living standards and a lack of customers, it's becoming a challenge because I have to pay the motorcycle owner daily, making it a very stressful job. However, thanks to GiveDirectly for coming to our rescue. Previously, my children would sleep without eating, but now, with financial support from GiveDirectly, that doesn't happen anymore. I'm hopeful that once I buy my own motorcycle, I'll be able to provide my family with the life they deserve. I plan to save from my income and transfers, and I'm confident that I will buy the motorcycle, ultimately transforming my life and that of my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Life has been incredibly challenging due to the scarcity of food. Despite investing heavily in farming last season, we ended up with no harvest. This has also affected job opportunities, particularly for motorbike taxi drivers like myself, as people's limited income is prioritized for purchasing food. As parents, we are now working tirelessly to make ends meet and provide for our families. When I recently received my transfer, I used the entire $102 to buy food. This allowed us to build up a stock that will sustain us for some time, giving me peace of mind that my children won't go hungry and providing me with the strength to continue seeking work to support my family. I am truly grateful to GiveDirectly for their invaluable financial assistance.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I work as a motorcycle driver, and my goal is to acquire my own motorcycle. Currently, I use a motorcycle owned by someone else and pay them $4 each time I use it. Sometimes, after paying the owner, I'm left with no money to even spend on myself, leave alone my family. Once I purchase my own motorcycle, I'll be able to provide my family with the life they deserve. I plan to save from my income and transfers, and I'm confident that I will buy the motorcycle and will transform my life and that of my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I currently have six siblings who are all attending school. With the transfer, I allocated $10 to pay for the school fees of two of my siblings, ensuring their education continues uninterrupted. Additionally, I spent $24 to purchase food, ensuring we have enough to eat. With the remaining amount of $64, I purchased two goats, bringing the total to three. I aim to accumulate as many goats as possible to have a backup plan for financial emergencies.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With the support of Givedirectly transfers and my earnings, I'm diligently saving towards a goal for the coming year. My aim is to own a motorbike, which I see as the key to creating a sustainable source of income. Moreover, I plan to start a family, by finding a wife with whom I can build a stable home. Despite my aspirations, I remain committed to supporting my siblings until they're able to stand on their own feet. I'm forever grateful for the monthly transfers from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I work as a motorcycle rider, and life hasn't been easy since our parents separated three years ago, leaving me and my siblings to fend for ourselves. With my elder sister married and my elder brother unemployed, the responsibility of caring for my six younger siblings often falls on my shoulders. Thanks to the support from Givedirectly, I've been able to make some positive changes. Over the last three months, I used the transfers to purchase three goats valued at $120. These goats represent more than just livestock; they're like a savings account that I hope will provide income once they start reproducing. Givedirectly's assistance has given me more than just financial help; it's given me hope for a brighter future, not only for myself but for my siblings as well. With this support, I can ensure my siblings have their basic needs met and also continue with their education, unlike before when they would often stay home due to lack of school fees.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have a plan to save up enough money to buy more chickens. Once I expand my poultry, I can sell them and work towards acquiring a new motorcycle. Currently, I operate on commission, but owning my own motorcycle is a goal I'm eager to achieve. I am determined to save both from my business earnings and transfers to turn this dream into reality.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a motorcycle driver, when I received my transfers, I immediately allocated $15 to pay the school fees for my five brothers. I believe that investing in their education is crucial to shaping their future. Currently, I have six chickens, having purchased four additional ones for $10 to expand my poultry. With the remaining $9, I purchased food, and my siblings and I enjoyed a meal together at home.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 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?
Currently, I work as a motorcycle rider, facing uncertain earnings of $5 on some days and returning home empty-handed on others. My aspiration is to own my own motorcycle, as the one I currently use is borrowed from a friend. To achieve this goal, I am determined to save diligently until I can purchase my own motorcycle. Additionally, I plan to capitalize on the growth of my chicken flock, selling them when they reach maturity, and using the proceeds to contribute towards acquiring the motorcycle. This dual effort of saving and leveraging the potential of my poultry will pave the way for me to attain the independence and stability that owning a motorcycle can provide.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am sincerely grateful to GiveDirectly for their timely support, which arrived when my family needed it the most. The transfer provided were a lifeline, allowing me to address our essential needs. With the money, I purchased food using $23 to alleviate hunger and ensured that my family's well-being was taken care of. I also dedicated a portion of the funds, $5, to support my siblings' education, recognizing the importance of investing in their future. Additionally, I made a thoughtful investment in two chickens using the remaining amount, costing $6 for the two chicken. This not only expanded our poultry flock but also held promise for future sustainability and potential income generation. The support we received from GiveDirectly has made a significant impact on our lives, enabling us to overcome obstacles and improve our overall quality of life. I am immensely grateful for GiveDirectly's assistance, as it has given us hope and the opportunity to build a more stable and prosperous future. Thank you, GiveDirectly, for your generosity and for being there for us when we needed it the most.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 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?
I am a motorcycle rider and I run this business using someone's else's motorcycle. I am expected to give $4 daily to the owner and this means that on days that I do not get business I am forced to go on a negative balance to make this payment. I had hoped GD could give me the money in bulk but now understanding the payment patterns my hope is to get a lona from one of the local groups and then use GD transfers to pay it back. I want to be able to maximize on my savings so I can take my siblings through school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my December transfer for the festivities, $30 went into the purchase of food items such as wheat flour, cooking oil, maize flour so that my family could have at least two meals daily during the holidays. I save $4 for my personal use. In January my siblings were going to school I paid $15 towards school for the six of them, it did not settle the whole debt but I was able to get them to school. I bought two chicken at $8 and the rest of my transfer went into buying to ensure the family did not miss out on food. In February I saw that it was a good opportunity to buy a goad and I got a goat at $35.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly did well to provide the funds because through the support program. I have provided food for my siblings and educated them. However, I feel that Give directly should discuss with recipients and consider buying assets for them and deducting the amount from the monthly transfers. For instance, I would have preferred the motorcycle bought for me
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the third child in a family of ten children. Our parents divorced and left us. My elder brother and sister moved out, and they left me to take care of my siblings. My parents rarely visit and once in a while, they send me some money for food, which is not enough because six of my siblings are in school. I am employed and working as a motorcycle rider and on good days I earn a maximum of $5, which can only afford to cater our meals as a family for only two days. As soon as I received my transfer, I used all the $30 to buy food because I had no money as I consumed all in paying school fees for my siblings.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the mid-morning, and I was resting at home. I did not have so many activities to engage in since I had just concluded our bodaboda taxi riders meeting. Unfortunately, my motorcycle had a breakdown. While going through my transfer, I was overwhelmed with joy to learn that I had received my transfer. I was so glad because out of the transfer, I could be able to contribute towards buying food for the family. During that week, life was pretty hard. I thank God who made a way out for us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Because I do not have any formal job, I opted to engage in a motorcycle taxi business. Even though I am always able to earn a living through it, sometimes it is an unpredictable business. Therefore, as soon as I began receiving my transfers, I developed a goal of raising chickens and goats. I long to venture into livestock rearing because it is a profitable venture. Goats and domestic fowl grow faster and they tend to raise income faster than other livestock.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family has been struggling to raise some money to buy food. As a matter of fact, there is no breadwinner in our family. We do not have any source of income except to rely on farm produce. However, due to the low farm yield we had in the last season, we did not have adequate food for the family. As soon as I received my transfer, I spent the whole of it, KES 1,200 to buy food. We did not have food because whatever we had bought the previous day had been depleted. I did not know what I could do to obtain food for our family of seven. I can acknowledge the transfers were timely to us.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am employed as a motorcycle taxi rider. My desire has always been to own a motorcycle so that I can be self-employed. This is because as an employee, I am required to give the owner of the motorcycle 400 KES at the end of the day. This leaves me with very little money. My plan is therefore to save 15,000 KES from my transfers then purchase a motorcycle on higher purchase. With a deposit of 15,000 KES I will be paying 2,800 every week for one year and a half so as to complete and have full ownership.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have made some strides this year in terms of increasing my sources of income. I have bought 2 goats and 2 chicken which I believe in a few years time they will have multiplied. This achievement is the reason for my happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My parents separated one year ago. My father works in town and back at home, I am the one who shoulders most of the responsibilities. I operate a motorcycle taxi and at the end of the day, I have to come home with food for my 7 siblings. I get little support from my father because he does casual jobs which pay little. I dropped out of secondary education in 2019 because of lack of school fees. Life has been very tough.