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 ($468 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I wanted to marry a wife since I no longer had a wife as my wife left since I hadn't paid for her dowry. Now I have no wife. The two main issues I wanted sorted out for these transfers were to get a wife as well as biuld a house for myslef as I have not had a good house. Sleeping in my house could be equated to sleeping outside. I had had this goal previously but I lost alot of money in a deal that went wrong.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I have a roof over my head since I now have finished constructing my house and am living in it. I however have nothing left from my transfers. I am now back to scratch with regards to finances and I wish I had received some more transfers or gotten help with following up my money which I had lost to people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having known that the transfers were to be used on things that would better my life I decided to use my transfer and focus on the house construction. Biulding my house I knew would take a huge load of posts. This included the posts for the lower part of the house and the roofing of the house. I spent my first transfer on getting posts for the lower part of the house which went for 40,000 shillings and the upper part of the house took 10,000 shillings. The rest of the money went into sorting out my food needs. My second transfer went into buying roofing sheets. I bought 30 roofing sheets at 1,150 shillings which totalled to 34,500. 12,000.shillings went into paying the construction workers which included those responsible for cutting the posts into usable sizes. I also added more posts as it seemed those available could not achieve the intended target with the construction. I wasn't left with any money but my house has come to completion. I was unable to do anything on the wife front.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Having been registered by the GiveDirectly staff and informed that we will receive the first transfer on October 2021, I was eagerly waiting for it. On my day 3 of doing some preparations of a place where I was planning to construct a house once the money is sent, is when I received a message. I was overwhelmed after realizing that it was the transfer from GiveDirectly thus I gained more strength in the preparations.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The fact of me having a house is a greater achievement and it has changed my living situation. If it were not for the GiveDirectly organization then it could take me ages to get such a house or even not being able to have it at all. I am very grateful for this far the organization has taken me and I pray for its existence so as to keep on impacting the lives of the marginalized and other members of the community who are going through tough times.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since the house I was living in was just but a hat, I decided to use 90% of the first transfer to get a place I can call a house. I bought some iron sheets, poles and rafters. The house is now underway and it will be complete very soon and I will own a house too like other humans. I kept the remaining 10% for food and other family uses.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means building a new house. This is because, for the last five years. I have been sleeping in a single room house which leaks when it rains and very cold at night which makes it difficult to sleep comfortable. However, I have no other option because of lack of money to build a better house. I depend on charcoal selling business which earns me very little amount of around 2000KES a month. This money is not enough to take care of my basic needs and save for my future as well. All the money I get is used for buying food. I intend to use the first cash transfer to build a two bedroom house that will cost around 30000 KES. I will then use the remaining amount to buy ten goats as an investment for my future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is usually in the evening. This is because I leave early in the morning for charcoal burning and come back in the evening. It is during this time that I get home with some profit that can help me buy food. It is also during this time that I cook and eat and then refresh myself as I prepare to face the next day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a business man who depends on charcoal burning to earn a living. Five years ago I was robbed sacks of charcoal worth 20000 by a person who pretended to be a customer. He took the charcoal and promised to pay back but then disappeared. I decided to report the matter to the police and I filed a case. However, since then I have not got any assistance as the police officer in charge of my case demands money of not less than 5000KES to help me. Due to the nature of my business, I am not able to finance the case. This makes it hard to get back my money. The little profit of KES 2000 a month I get I just use for domestic use.
Therefore, the biggest hardship I have ever faced is loss of my charcoal worth 20000 KES.
