12 people from Kenya reveal how getting free cash is changing their lives

For decades, many charitable gifts came with the same arrangement: You donated to a child or family in need, and a couple months later you received a letter from them saying thank you.

GiveDirectly, an NGO known for its system of direct cash transfers in Kenya and Uganda, has developed a more sophisticated approach. A new web app known as GDLive allows anyone to log onto the site to see real testimonials about how people are using their cash.

Many of GiveDirectly's beneficiaries get initial payments of around $100, then move to a second lump sum of $400 a couple months later.

To update GDLive, teams on the ground ask each subject how they'll use any forthcoming money and what benefits they've already seen from their transfers. App users can track specific recipients and receive email updates when an individual gets a new payment.

GiveDirectly's philosophy is that simply giving people cash and letting them decide how to spend it helps them solve their biggest problems with dignity and independence. In line with much of the research on cash transfers, many of the recipients' stories are wholly positive.

We've collected a dozen of the responses below.