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 ($436 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My current objective is to build a kitchen. I will benefit significantly from this, especially while it's raining. As of right now, I cook in the same house. After cooking, I'm generally disturbed by smoke, so I have to wait outside the house until quite late at night to let the smoke clear before going to bed. Again, the iron sheets are being destroyed by the smoke. That will be the first thing I do if I get some money.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly was a great addition to the neighborhood, and we can attest that they performed up to our standards. Everyone seems to agree that each household was treated fairly and without discrimination. I don't have any problems because the financial aid I got taken care of my needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Sleeping on the floor with empty sacks as bedding was not giving me peace of mind. Upon getting the second transfer, I opted to buy a modern standard bed and a mattress. Currently, I am very happy that I have a nice sleeping place and I no longer wake up tired as I used to before. I also bought some clothes for my children. Since we are faced with water scarcity in our area, I decided to buy a water tank of 400-liter capacity for storing water during the rainy season. The aim of the collected water is for domestic uses as well as for agriculture in irrigation. In addition, I used $18 to buy three plastic chairs because I had only one chair at home. This was shameful once I receive visitors and I had to borrow from neighbors or offer the visitors some logs to seat on. Thereafter, I saw it prudent to keep the remaining amount for the family's use.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($467 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home busy preparing dinner for the family when I received the message notifications about the transfer. I still remember it was around 5 pm, I was relaxing after coming from my farm where I had spent the entire day working. I was with my helper who checked the phone since I am illiterate. After checking, he informed me that I had received the transfer. I was extremely happy for receiving the transfer that would aid in fulfilling most of my goals especially owning a decent shelter for myself.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living in a comfortable house is the biggest difference in my daily life. Currently, I am happy that l enjoyed my nights unlike before where I was worried because of the poor State of my house. In addition, I am happy that I own livestock like other that I will depend whenever I face financial uncertainty.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Constructing a respectable house for myself has been my longing for over 3 years. This is because the house that I previously own was old and had collapsed on one side. I was always worried that my fall anything rendering me homeless. After receiving the transfer, I bought the required building materials for the construction of a new house that costs KES 35000 in total. In addition, I spent KES 3000 to purchase one goat a future investment for myself. With the remaining amount, I used to pay off the debt at the nearby shop and bought sufficient food for the family since I did not have food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this transfer from GiveDirectly means a spacious and a decent house for my family. I have been living under an incomplete one-room house with my grandchildren for over three years now. To make it worse, the house lacks a door and unsafe especially during the night hours because snakes can walk in easily thus endangering my life and those of my grandchildren. My two sons who had initiated the construction of my house lost their jobs two years ago and are currently home with me. I will spend KES 45,000 from the transfer to consist a two-bedroom house for my family; one room for my grandchildren and the other room for myself. Doing this will earn me the privacy and reputation I have always desired in the village. I will use the balance to buy enough food for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have been suffering from leg pains since the day I was involved in a motorbike accident a few years ago. However, I am relieved of the paint during the evening hours and this brings joy and happiness into my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The loss of jobs by my two sons was the beginning of misery and suffering for my family. They were later forced to come back to the village and currently engaging in charcoal burning; an energy draining occupation with poor pay. Sometimes we go without food because we have been unable to sell enough charcoal to sustain us.
