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
53150 KES ($428 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 long-term goal is to start a tailoring school. A lot of women are interested in the business and they have been requesting me to enroll them. My other short-term goal is to wait for the rainy season that is almost here and cultivate crops for commercial purposes.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The staff at GiveDirectly are polite and they are so clear in their communication. I also enjoy calling them on their hotline number, it is free and it motivates me to call whenever I have an issue with my transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before the transfer, I lived in a one-roomed house. The iron sheets were old and leaking. When it rained we would move to the side that is not leaking and wait for the rain to pass. We have lived like this for the past five years. Receiving this money has helped me build a new house for my family, a two-roomed house that cost $500, my family is comfortable now. used the rest of the transfer of $30 to clear school fees for my two children in grades five and two.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($464 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 that evening, at around 7pm as I was preparing super for my family of three when I heard a phone vibration from the charge. I dashed onto the table and pick the phone. I didn't believe the news I got so I had to recheck the message again to certain it was Mpesa confirmation receipt of KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. It came as a surprise.When my husband came back from work, I break the good news to him immediately without hesitation. The entire family was overwhelmed with happiness because we knew it was a new dawn. We have been living in a small house, and receiving the transfer meant that I would increase the size of the house. We agreed to withdraw the whole amount the following day so that we could start spending the transfer as we have planned.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payment from GiveDirectly was starting a construction of a three-bedroom house. We have been living in a small room which was never spacious enough to accommodate my family of three. To make matters worse, whenever it rains, we would squeeze ourselves in one corner of the house to prevent us from being rained on. Despite being a tailor and my husband being casual labourer, still we were not able to build a bigger house due to other family demands such as food, education and medical expenses. We have managed to achieve the dream through the transfer that GiveDirectly sent us. I spent the entire 55,000 to start the building process. I bought 26 iron sheet for KES 25,000 and labor plus other building materials for KES 30,000. The building process is not complete and I am looking forward to receiving my last transfer so that we can use it to complete the building.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of 3 living in a small village of Bamba in Kilifi town together with my husband. I am a tailor while my husband is a casual labourer in the construction site. What we earn from the jobs we do is never enough to support the entire family demands such education and housing. I have always desired to build a three-bedroom house in vain due to lack of enough money. We have been living is a small room and my oldest son normally go to spend the night at a neighbor's place. I was overwhelmed with happiness when I received my first transfer because I knew it was a new dawn in my life. I bought 26 iron sheet worth KES 25,000 to start the construction. I spent KES 30,000 to pay for labor along with poles and nails which was necessary for the construction process. I am still in the process to complete the building and I am hoping to use my next transfer for the construction.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My family and I live in a very old mud walled house which is at the verge of collapsing. The roof also leaks when it rains because the iron sheets are worn out. It worries me so much when it rains because I fear the safety of my children because it may collapse anytime. My spouse who works as a watchman earns a monthly salary of KES 10000. A bigger portion of it is used for food and other basic needs which makes it hard to save and renovate it. My ambition is to build a three bedroom house that will accommodate me and my four children. I will therefore use KES 60000 to build a new house and use the remaining amount on livestock farming.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Over the years, our village has been experiencing water scarcity. Imagine a woman walking for over ten kilometers every day just to get twenty litres of water. This is not enough for cooking leave alone drinking. Life has been very difficult for us. However, last month we received goods news from an organization that offered to bring tap water for us. As we speak, five taps have been installed and we nolonger walk for longer distances anymore. I can comfortably get water next to my house which is a big relief to me. This has been a source of joy and happiness to me and the entire village.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unreliable source of income is the main challenge that I am currently facing. I depend on my spouse who works as a watchman in a local private school. He earns a salary of KES 10000. Unfortunately most of the time, his employer may skip two to three months without disbursing his salary. This makes our family suffer too much that we go hungry for two or three days. It pains my heart to see the children cry helplessly due to pangs of hunger that bite their stomach as they see our neighbors enjoying their hearty meals. This has rendered us hopeless. I intend to fix this by using KES 30000 to buy a new sewing machine and open a business of making clothes especially school uniforms which I will be supplying to the the local schools in the village. This will bring an income to my family and meet our daily needs.
