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?
I borrowed $1000 from my merry-go-round in order to purchase a motorcycle. With determination, I have already paid $620 and have $380 left to clear. Unfortunately, a previous motorcycle bike I took on loan, was repossessed back due to financial instability, leaving me with nothing. Each month, I diligently allocate funds to repay my debts, and this month alone I have already used $102 from my transfers. Thanks to the invaluable support of GiveDirectly, I am now able to manage my debt and provide for my family through income earned from operating the motorcycle. Paying off this loan is pivotal for me. It's not just about financial stability but about creating a better life for my loved ones. Thank you so much GiveDirectly, with your continued support, I'm confident that once this debt is settled, I can provide my family with the quality of life they truly deserve.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am in the process of paying off the debt I took from my merry-go-round, that I used to purchase a new motorcycle. Once I have cleared this debt, my next step is to invest in livestock. At the moment, I have one goat and I am looking forward to it multiplying so I can sell them and use the proceeds to cover my children's school fees. As a father of two children, I strongly believe in investing in their education to give them a brighter future. It's my priority to ensure they receive the best possible opportunities for growth and learning.
25th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I'm truly thankful for the financial support from Give Directly. I've been diligently saving my transfers in our local merry-go-round savings group. By saving monthly, I was able to take out a loan from the same group, which allowed me to fulfill my dream of owning a motorbike for my taxi business.
Now, I'm using the transfers to repay the loan, and the earnings from my taxi service are dedicated to paying off the motorbike, which I haven't fully paid off yet. This setup has been a significant step towards improving my financial stability.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I'm grateful to have received a motorcycle though on loan . I relocated to the city where business prospects are better, aiming to earn enough to pay off the loan. Additionally, I set up a vegetable business for my wife to help support our family. Going forward, my main goal is to expand the vegetable business. Once it becomes stable, it will generate extra income, allowing us to focus on fully paying off the motorcycle loan.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 8 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I joined a village savings group from the time I joined Givedirectly. Being a member of the group I am eligible to a loan. I increased my savings to $30 over the past three months so I could take a significantly large loan. I had found a place where I could buy a motorcycle on loan and I knew by being able to get the deposit from my Village savings group I could afford to take the motorcycle and pay for it as I worked for it. I took a loan of $200 in December and went to Mombasa to get the motorcycle as well as work there.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My wife has been jobless and I have been the only one making an income. I used to get motorcycle riding jobs on casual basis but they did not pay much as most of the money I got went into paying the owner and fuelling. I wanted to buy my own motorcycle so as to reduce this expenses. I now own the motorcycle though on loan. I am now in the city running the business to make an income. I hope to be able to pay for the motorcycle fully from the proceeds of working with it while paying my savings group loan using the transfers.
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I married not so far back, this was a good thing for me but at the time I did not have a sufficient amount to pay for dowry. I have lived with my wife ever since we got married but in February this year she was taken back home since I had not finished settling my debt with the family. I need to settle a debt worth $200. I have been sending monthly from my transfers, to my in-laws. $20 to help bring down my debt. I did this with my June, July and august transfers. I had also moved to the city which meant I needed to get a space to live, I spend the rest of the amount to settle my rent payments.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have two children and when my wife was taken back to her home she went with them. They are soon becoming of school going age and I need them to bee at arms reach to ensure I am able to support them financially, mentally and physically. I want to clear my dowry debt to ensure that they get back as soon as possible. After I get my wife back, I would like to get a second hand motorbike which I hope to use to raise cash to take care of my family.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Recently, I relocated to town in search of employment opportunities. In an attempt to support my family, my wife has been doing a house help job to help raise additional income. Despite all these, life is still a big struggle. Since I am away from home, when I received my transfer, I spent $10 on food for my upkeep. I also sent $15 to my family at home. I have been using the rest for my daily needs since I have not yet gotten a job though I am optimistic I will get one soon. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for its unwavering support because I can always meet my family's nutritional needs even though I do not have a job.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been operating a motorcycle taxi while looking for employment, but it had been less profitable. I constantly have a small amount of cash after paying the owner because the motorcycle belongs to someone. I hope to build my savings and purchase a motorcycle from my subsequent monthly transfers in the upcoming periods. If I succeed to get formal employment, it will serve as a backup source of income. I will easily raise enough money with a motorcycle to support my family. It will significantly lessen the difficulties I have experienced over the past few years.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
According to my tradition, I am supposed to have settled my wife's bridal price by now but due to financial constraints I am still struggling to settle it. Her family came and took her back home in December last year and gave me a condition of settling the bride price and until then my wife and children will live with her parents as traditional demands.The moment I received my transfers I sent $14 to my wife for her upkeep and the remaining amount of $20 I saved for my wife's bridal price. I am doing everything in my power to bring my wife and children back home to live together once again as a big family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I took a motorcycle on loan but it was re-possesed because I could not make the prearranged payment on time. I was able to at least settle $140 but due to the tough economic time I was unable to settle $50. I am currently moving up and down in my search for a well paying job and I am confident that once I do, I will get the motorcycle back and save enough money so that I will start a little business for my wife so that she has a way to make money and buy everything she wants for herself. I will also make sure I open my own business and make huge profit and have the life we as a family desired.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers have been of great help and I thank God because it would not have been easy without the support. I bought a motorcycle on credit. Unfortunately, it was recently impounded because I failed to pay the weekly KES 2500 to service the debt leaving me with no reliable source of income. I have therefore, devoted KES 2200 of the monthly transfers to purchase cornflour and KES 800 for boosting my spouse’s business. She prepares and sells chapatis and currently, this is our main source of income. The prices of food commodities have gone up and if it was not for GiveDirectly then raising my family of five would have been a challenge.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my recent transfer, I was able to purchase maize flour for my family. Even though I do motorcycle taxis, there has a low income generated from this business owing to the high cost of living. For the two consecutive seasons, we never had any good harvest hence we have been forced to keep on buying food. The increase in food prices has of late made it even more difficult for us to obtain food thus we occasionally miss meals. Fortunately, when I received my transfer, I felt relief because I knew that I could acquire food that could take my family for about a week.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my view, GiveDirectly is one of the fewest NGOs that offers outstanding help to the neediest community members. Its model of giveing direct cash transfer is beneficial to us because we can always prioritize our needs and use the cash to meet such needs. The transfer is unconditional thus as beneficiaries we can use them in a way that is beneficial to us without strings attached to it. Moreover, it promotes confidentiality and security by ensuring that the cash is sent directly through Mpesa.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am married with two children and the sole provider of the family. I also work as a motorcyclist. Before, the job was easy, but after the hiked fuel prices, it has been very hard and I find myself working for the fuel. Thereby lacking funds to take home. For 2 days, we had been forced to sleep hungry as we had run out of food in the household. I tried asking for help from relatives but it was all in vain. so, when I got the funds from give directly, I use it all to purchase some food for us
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have been living a life full of financial hardships. To provide for my family, I fully depended on my job as a motorcyclist. This earns me very little and even worse, the motorcycle I use, I had bought it on hire purchase. Weekly, I need to pay KES 2500. This month, I've not been able to meet this as I had less money. So, I opted to use it towards feeding my family. For this reason, I have been getting constant calls requesting me to make my repayments which has been stressing me out. Now that I'm receiving these funds from give directly, my life will be improved. The funds will help in the provision for my family's needs as I work on settling the motorcycle debt.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 10 p.m. when I arrived home from work. I got a message that confirmed I had received funds from give directly. This made me feel very relieved as I was worried about how my wife would react if she learned that I had not made money that day. I shared the news with her and together we decided that we should buy some food. Since the shops had already closed, we did so the following day. Unfortunately, we had to sleep hungry.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Finances are limited at the moment. The cost of living has risen especially with the hike in fuel prices. I am a motorcycle taxi driver and this has hit my industry hard. A couple of months back I would make a profit of 1000 KES, today 500 KES is a challenge. These days I sleep on an empty stomach at least thrice a week. This situation has demoralized my efforts to work but I encourage myself that better days are ahead.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the challenges I face, I am blessed to have a wife that is understanding. Her support is what brings joy to my heart everyday.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I look forward to building a spacious house, a two-roomed house would be ideal. The one-roomed house is small and still acts as our kitchen. I have two children and I would love if they had a room of their own, privacy is important to me. I plan to set aside 2,000 KES every month to help kick off this project, I will need about 40,000 KES. The rest of the amount I will have to budget between household needs and education for my two children when of age.