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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($457 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 single mother, depending on charcoal vending which is a very tiresome activity and has low pay to support the family. My new goal is to start a grocery business selling vegetables like kale, spinach, tomatoes and dry fish. This will be the alternative source of income that would support the basic needs of the family as well as educate my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, sending unconditional cash transfers directly to poor households is what the organization did well. Furthermore, it was not a loan that will require one to repay. Through the transfer, we have been able to achieve a lot something that had drastically changed our living standards for the better something that we are very happy for.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 to pay the labor charges for the construction of a one-roomed house for my family. For more than 5 years, I was seeking shelter from our neighbors with my 4 children. This deprived our privacy and I had to sleep on the floor with the children something that bothered my mind a lot. Additionally, I used KES 13,000 to purchase proper bedding since we were sleeping on the floor with old sacks as bedding that were uncomfortable. In addition, I spend part of the remaining amount to pay school fees for the 3 children who are still schooling at the primary level. I also bought food with the remaining amount.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
As I was preparing myself to go to the field to cut log for making charcoals at around 7am, I received a message in my phone. Despite being unable to read and write, I was taught on how to interpret M-pesa messages thus I knew that I had received some money on that I could not know the source. Happily, I called one of my children only to confirm the source. My heart melted in happiness for knowing that GiveDirectly had honored their word.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The main difference that I can attest is that, initially I was not living freely in my house since I was sleeping together with my boys in the same house. My privacy was no longer there and I felt uncomfortable. But, as of now GiveDirectly has restored my private life and confidence since it empowered me to build a house for my boys and I am now comfortable in my house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I was living in the same house with my children and some of them are grownup boys, I felt that my privacy is being deprived. Upon withdrawing the money, I opted to construct a house for them. By doing so, I bought the construction materials and also paid the contractor, the total cost for the house to completion was KES 45000.00. Thereafter, I used the remaining amount in buying food for the family since it was a drought season.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will uplift the standard of living for me and my four children as well. I will use 10,000 KES to buy a bed and a matress for my children so that they can sleep comfortably. They are currently sleeping in a bed made of ropes without a matress. I will then repair the walls to my house at a cost of 15,000 KES. One part of the wall is already falling off. I will also use part of the transfers for the medication of my son who seems to be asthmatic. He needs some tests.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a single mother and it has never been easy raising up my four children. This January, I was glad to have saved and raised enough to buy food for my children and send them to school. I am very proud of myself. Seeing my children in school is such a great joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With the little income I get from selling charcoal, I cannot comfortably afford most of my needs like basic needs, education for my children and proper medication. My current worry is medication for my 7 year old son whom I guess is asthmatic. I have not been able to afford specialised treatment for him due to lack of money. I am worried that his condition might get worse because sometimes the condition prevents him from going to school for up to a week.
