Recently, we found out that one of our recipients used his transfer to start a band; he bought instruments and hired seven other musicians and four dancers. They play paying gigs around their community and have even put out an album. Our favorite track is a song about GiveDirectly. It’s not only catchy and fun to listen to – especially as the hold music on our conference line – but a reminder of why we believe in giving the poor the choice to pursue their own goals.

You might have seen charity appeals to send a goat or cow this holiday season.

Well, we don’t send livestock; we send cash. Beyond its effectiveness, what’s really exciting is the flexibility and freedom it provides recipients. Cash (unlike goats, for example) has the unique ability to give people with different needs or talents the opportunity to pursue them. And, as a result of our model, which involves direct communication with every recipient, we know how each cash transfer gets spent.

We love both that this recipient was able to achieve his dream of starting his own band, and that we were able to get such direct, positive feedback on our program outside of a routine phone call (and in such a creative form!). The song is a great, if unusual, sign of recipients’ happiness with our program and staff. Take a look at the translated lyrics, below, for direct insight into staff dedication, recipients’ thoughts on microfinance, and GiveDirectly being “well-organized.”

As far as we’re aware, no goat has ever enabled or inspired such a song. We’re glad that our team is in such close proximity to our recipients that we can easily find out about things like this – and then go purchase a bunch of CDs.

So check it out; we hope you’ll enjoy it as much as we do.

Lyrics:

We are thanking GiveDirectly for the work they are doing in Kenya, Africa x2
We thank GiveDirectly, the work you are doing in Kenya is great x2
We thank GiveDirectly, the work you are doing in Kenya, Africa is great x2

GiveDirectly has helped those who were in thatched houses and now almost everyone is having iron roof house x2
They have helped everyone who used to sleep in thatched houses, now all you see are shining iron roofs… Africa x2
They have helped everyone who used to sleep in thatched houses, now all you see are shining iron roofs… Africa x2

Congratulations to Carolina Toth and Joe Huston for your love to Kenya in Africa x2
Congratulations Carolina Toth and Joe Huston. You love Kenya, Africa x2
Congratulations Carolina Toth and Joe Huston. You love Kenya, Africa x2

GiveDirectly is well organize, it’s an organization of its own kind (unique) x2
GiveDirectly is well organized, it’s an organization of its own kind x2
GiveDirectly is well organized, it’s an organization of its own kind x2

Congratulations to George Owuor for the whole hearted commitment to GiveDirectly activities x2
Congratulations George Owuor for your dedicated work x2
Congratulations George Owuor for your dedicated work x2

Congratulation to Lydia Tala for the whole commitment to GiveDirectly activities x2
Congratulations Lydia Tala for your dedicated work x2
Congratulations Lydia Tala for your dedicated work x2

Congratulations to Erick Ndong’a for the whole hearted commitment to GiveDirectly activities x2
Congratulations Erick Ndong’a for your dedicated work x2
Congratulations Erick Ndong’a for your dedicated work x2

Congratulations to Anne Aroka for the whole hearted commitment to GiveDirectly activities x2
Congratulations Anne Aroka for your dedicated work x2
Congratulations Anne Aroka for your dedicated work x2

GiveDirectly is much better than many financial agencies/microfinance organization which lend you money with the condition of repaying failure to repay they take take you to jail or reposes your assets x2
Much better than these organizations misleading the society, lending you money with handcuffs x2
Much better than these organizations misleading the society, lending you money with handcuffs x2

CHORUS
My life is GiveDirectly
My house is GiveDirectly
My phone is GiveDirectly
My job is GiveDirectly
My love is GiveDirectly

My life, Give Direct
My house, Give Direct
My farm, Give Direct
I love Give Direct

My life, Give Direct
My house, Give Direct
My job, Give Direct
I love Give Direct

Everything we do with GiveDirectly transfer is very useful to the community and it reaches the recipients directly.
Recipients have used the transfer to build iron roof houses, to purchase motorcycle, to purchase vehicles, to pay school fees – all these are useful and uplifting poor communities’ life standards.
Everything you bring helps us, everything you bring reaches us, the houses you have helped build are a help to us, even the motorcycles you have helped buy us help us, even if you bought us a motor vehicle…

CHORUS
My life is GiveDirectly
My house is GiveDirectly
My phone is GiveDirectly
My job is GiveDirectly
My love is GiveDirectly

My life, Give Direct
My house, Give Direct
My farm, Give Direct
I love Give Direct

My life, Give Direct
My house, Give Direct
My job, Give Direct
I love Give Direct