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 ($528 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?
There is really a big difference in comparison to the life I am living now and how it would have been without the transfers. My life has improved a lot and many things that I own now would not have been there. I managed to buy livestock, construct a new house, furnish it up and also the foodstuff is now available in our household all times.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly enabled everyone in our village to improve developmental wise. Many bought cows while others improved their living conditions through the construction of new houses.
On the other side, it is my feeling that GD should have considered revisiting those recipients who were eligible but never had their national identity cards then. They also deserved a chance to receive the transfers since they are currently lagging behind as far as projects and development are a concern.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
Upon receiving my second transfer, we made a decision as a family to spend part of it on constructing a new house. The small hut we were initially living in was getting old and the roof had started leaking during rainy seasons. Since the new house was wider compared to the initial one. we had to obtain additional furniture which included a new bed for my children. With the remaining amount, we saw it good to buy four goats as a start-up towards purchasing a cow in the near future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built a better house for my family. I used to live in a small grass-thatched which could not host all my family comfortably. I was shy to welcome visitors to my house because I had nowhere to host them. My children were sleeping at their grandmother's house because its a taboo to sleep with grown-up children in one house. Currently, I have a good house and my family are happy because everyone enjoys their privacy. My children have a place to do their assignments and even have their own activities without any interruption.I'm no longer shy to welcome anybody to my house because my house looks so smart with a very nice seat in place. I am so happy for the support from GiveDirectly since it has changed our living standards a lot
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my money I felt so happy. It was very early in the money when I heard a message from my phone and when I checked it I could not believe my eyes because I have never received such amount of money at once before. My spouse and children were also happy because we knew we could get all the basic needs that we were missing before. We felt so grateful to GiveDirectly
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to build a better house for my family, I also bought clothes, sky blast for storing clean water and the rest of the money was used it to buy food and beddings. I am happy that GiveDirectly has been able to allow me to do this and change my living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my family's uncertainity towards my ability to provide for their basic needs is solved. This is because GD has provided me with the means(cash) of starting a poultry farming business whereby I'll be able to sell the poultry products and as a result cater for their basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day begins in the morning at 5:30 a.m where I have to wake up that early so as to go and look for a casual job on people's farms to minimize competition from other labourers. I then dwell on that farm until in the evening bearing in mind that by the end of that day, I'll be able to fend for my family. Later on I get paid and head to the market to buy some foodstuffs for my family to take for supper. The joy potrayed on my family member's face when taking supper makes me feel alive. This sums up my happiest part of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The uncertainity of whether I'll be able to fend for my family on a daily basis has been an uphill task for me. This is because I normally rely on casual jobs on people's farm so as to get the cash to cater for my family's basic needs. This does not provide a regular source of income since there is no assurance of tomorrow having another casual job and therefore there's always that probability of not being able to provide for my family. This for me is the biggest hardship I always experience.
