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 ($534 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has changed ever since I got the transfers because the house structure that I had before was so small, old and in such a dilapidated state. The old structure was almost collapsing but I want to thank Give Directly for coming to my rescue by giving me the cash transfers which I already used to build this new house where I currently live.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I believe that the organization does so well by changing peoples lives in the villages where we live. There a lot of people who used the transfers to benefit their families and changes their peoples lives through venturing in various projects.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I used the money to buy a piece of land which was sold top me at approximately Kes 50000 where I will develop a new house and rent it out to my customers. I will charge a monthly rent of approximately Kes 500. The only challenge I have right now is getting the cash required to develop the new house reason being that I already used the entire amount I got from the organization.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($544 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I now feel like a real man, I have stood up for my family. As usual, it's the role of the man to provide decent shelter to his family. This wasn't the case with me previously because what I have provided for my family was no more and I was not able to provide another one in time. Without GD money, I do not know what would have become of my family. I thank GD for taking away my shame.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My house fell before I received the transfer and the only hope I had was the GD money. It was around midnight when I woke up for a call of nature and as usual, I reached to my phone so that I could use the torch. I then saw a message notification blinking on my phone and to my surprise, it was the GD money. It was such a joyous moment. I woke up my spouse, shared the news with her and we had a short discussion and both agreed to proceed to construct a house with the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Initially, I planned to purchase oxen and a goat with the recent transfer which I will use for rearing so that I could use them to plow my farm. Unfortunately, my house fell leaving me with nowhere to stay so I had to use the transfer to construct a new house. I used the transfer to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber, and nails which I used in constructing my new house. I'm happy I now have a decent place to stay.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being the sole breadwinner is very difficult as I have to work extra hard to provide for my family. I believe my wife could have helped if she had a job but she is a housewife. It has always been my desire to equip her with skills so that she can play part in raising our financial status. To fulfill this dream, my wife will enroll in a dressmaking college and purchase all the equipment necessary to start a tailoring shop. Besides, I will purchase oxen to scale up farming and also hire them at a fee. This will mean a sustainable source of income that will meet our basic needs and save extra cash for future use.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Every morning before I leave for work I chat with my wife as she prepares breakfast. Her presence makes me happy because she laughs at the slightest joke I make. She also encourages me to work hard as she believes I can make our future better. Thus I can say morning is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My parents neglected me and I had to fend for myself at a very tender age. They never cared for me and I had to undertake casual jobs after school in order to raise school fees and other basic needs. This made me perform poorly in my final primary examination, something which I believe is the root cause for my poverty. Maybe I could be living a better life if I had received education up to tertiary level. I therefore consider parental deprivation as my biggest challenge as it has resulted to all my current problems.
