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 ($442 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?
I do not have any new goal apart from completing the current one which is to furnish our recently bult house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, what GiveDirectly did well was to educate us and pay us a visit before we got the cash. There is nothing that it did do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I had started building a modest house and left it halfway using the first transfer, I decided to complete it using the second transfer. Earlier, we were living in a bit smaller house and my children would spend their night at their grandparents house. Apparently, we are a family of five and part of the second transfer money went in feeding us. I am a stay at home mum. I do depend on my husband whose source of income is ferrying passagers on a motorcycle at a fee. I am grateful for GiveDirectly's cash transfer program which has made a positive impact in our lives .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My friend had informed me that early morning that they had received money from GiveDirectly. On checking my phone, nothing had come my way, though I was optimistic because it was still early in the morning. When I heard my phone ringing I was eager to check who had texted me. Upon checking, I saw a Mpesa message showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I Was so happy because I knew that I would be able to accomplish my goals in a short time. I am so grateful for the support that came to transform our living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having a decent shelter for my family has been my biggest goal in life. At first, it seemed impossible with the financial status of our family. But my life is different today because I have been able to build a decent house in a short time. We are grateful for the support that has impacted our lives positively.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my transfer, I knew that I would be able to build a decent house for my family. This is because the house that we were living in was small yet the family size was growing. At the moment we are blessed with two children. My husband is a motorcycle rider hence what he earns is not enough to build a decent house, thus we used a sum of KES 45,000. I then used the remaining amount on foodstuffs. I am grateful for the support that greatly impacted our living standards to a higher level.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means restoring dignity for my family. I live in a small single room house. This house is not spacious to accommodate all of us. It is shameful to have a family of three children and share the same bed with them and my spouse. This has forced my two children to borrow shelter from neighbours. I feel sad when people see me as a failure because I have children that I cannot afford shelter for them. However, due to financial challenges, I have not been able to build a bigger house to accommodate my family. I work as a motorist and the much I earn in a day is KES 300. This makes it hard to save and meet our basic needs. My ambition is to build a two bedroom house that will cost me KES 50000. I will then use the remaining amount to invest in my children education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
From last month, I have been getting clients from our village who want their hair made. In a week I get one or two which makes me earn KES 100 for every client. This has given me joy since the little money I get helps in buying food and my children are able to eat at least two meals a day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Have you imagined having a family of three young children without any source of income? This is the situation that is giving me sleepless nights. My family depends on my spouse who work as a motorist to meet our basic needs. What makes me worried is the fact that his job is unreliable. Sometimes he does not make any profit and we are forced to go without a meal in a day. It pains my heart when my children cry as a result of hunger especially when they see our neighbours taking their meals. My main goal is to go back to college to finish my hairdressing course and open my own saloon in the nearby town centre. This will help me earn a daily income which I will make savings for my children education. Lack of a reliable source of income therefore is the main challenge that I am facing.
