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 ($438 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?
Completing the construction of my house by renovating it into a permanent one is the new goal that I have at the moment. The structure that that we own at the moment is made up of mud walls on one side that requires frequent maintenance which is costly. I intend to purchase stones and cement to solve the problem once and for all.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well in coming to the village and enrolling every eligible households in the program. Conducting meetings and fulfilling every promise they made was something that they did well. I feel that there is nothing that they did not do well just to wish if they can continue supporting the needy households in the society.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Owning a good and respectable house for my family had always been my dream. The coming of GiveDirectly in our village resurrected the hope to fulfill my wish. I spend $200 of my transfer to renovate my house by replacing its mud walls with stone ones that are durable. Currently, I am happy that half of our house is permanent, and enjoying our sleep in a nice room. Nowadays, we are no longer worried that our shelter might fall at any time. Additionally, I used $100 to support the education of my daughter who is in form two at our nearby secondary school. She had huge fee arrears that was making her be sent home frequently. Furthermore, I used $110 to purchase new modern bedding for the family. Previously, we were using torn mattresses which were uncomfortable, and the kids were complaining of backbone pains every day.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While I was on a bus heading to the market on one of the fine mornings, I remember it was around 8 am when I received a message on my phone. Upon checking, I discovered that it was the GiveDirectly transfer that we were promised. I was filled with happiness though inwardly because I did not want people to realize since I was on a bus. When I returned home in the evening that was the first thing I shared with my wife and we all celebrated.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The main difference that I can attest to is that, the house I was living in was neither firm nor stable because of the last season's rain and also termites had destroyed the poles since it was made of mad. Concerning that, I wasn’t sure if it would survive for long but when I received the transfer I constructed some block pillars and it is now firm and stable. I appreciate GiveDirectly for the transfer because if it were not for them, then I do not know what condition my house would be by now due to the heavy rain that we are experiencing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the money, the first thing I did was renovate my house. In that, I bought some building blocks for KES 20000.00 and constructed some pillars. By so doing, I made my house firmer and stable. I also used KES 11000.00 to buy 2 mattresses for my children since theirs were worn out. Thereafter, using the remaining amount, I added some stock to my shop business to boost it and have adequate commodities for my customers as well as buy some food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had opened a grocery business for my wife in a nearby market center and I would love to expand it for her so she can get a good income. Another thing that I have always wanted to do is to renovate my house and furnish it. Receiving these transfers will enable me to achieve all these by spending 30,000 KES on the house, 20,000 KES in boosting the business, 20,000 KES on furniture and food then save the remaining 40,000 KES for any arising issues in the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I managed to get some money cash in Sept last year and was able to boost my wife's business a little and that made me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since the beginning of COVID-19 up to date, I have not recovered financially. I am a security guard at a water outlet but when the pandemic hit the country in 2020 I went for almost 4 months without a salary, which made me strain to make ends meet for my family. The only thing that kept us going was my wife's grocery business but because of the lack of capital, it almost collapsed. The lack of finances to boost my wife's grocery business is my current challenge.
