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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($492 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have improved my house. We used to live in a dusty house and this was affecting us. We were being exposed to dust and could have led to respiratory infection. I spend part of the second transfer to buy sand and cement. When I had not received the transfers I was not able complete this process. I do casual jobs and small scale farming. The amount of money that I get from this jobs is so small and I was only able to meet the daily needs and pay school fees only. My family now live well in a cemented house. Cleaning this house also is so easy compared to a muddy floor where one could walk for a long distance to get the clay soil for smearing . I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our lives to be better.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and pay school fees for my children in various schools. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend the money I received from GiveDirectly to complete the construction that was on going. I used to live in a house with a dusty floor. The second transfer enabled me to buy the materials and comented the floor. I am so happy because we are no longer exposed to dust particles. I also used part of the money to pay school fees for my children. This was also a factor that I needed to consider since I didn't wanted my children to be sent home for school fees. There performance has really improved compare to previous months. Finally I bought food for the family. We had no enough food on store. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had plans to improve the floor in of our house but I couldn't afford the materials due to other priority needs. When I received my first pay from GiveDirectly, I felt so happy as I knew that all my plans would be achieved.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My wife now have easy time cleaning the house. With a bucket of water and a duster she is able to clean a house faster and have more time to focus on other farm. Before when the house had dusty floor she would sweep almost three times a day and this would expose her to dust related infection cause deseases.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My first transfers which I received for GiveDirectly, I spent KES 4700 on buying foodstuffs for the family. I then spent another amount of KES 10000 on paying school fees for my children. The remaining amount of KES 40000 which happens to be the largest portion, I spent on buying building materials for plastering the floor of my house. My wife would sweep more than three times a day and would be dusty again and I saw it was a good time for her to have a rest and only do cleaning once per day.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My wife has been ailing and her age has advanced significantly. As such, she has been struggling to handle the usual household chores such as smearing our mud-walled house. So, I will utilize the transfers on plastering our house so that we have a more decent house and rid my wife of the tiresome smearing-tasks.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I am looking after my cattle. Ensuring that my livestock are doing well is crucial to me since they will attract revenues for our family in the future when we sell milk or some animals.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My wife was diagnosed with a brain tumor in the year 2002. Since I was working with the Kenyan military, the government footed her hospital bills. She is currently using drugs, looks emaciated, and feels weak. I thank God she is alive though she cannot handle many household and farming tasks as before. Overall, my wife's ailment has been the toughest challenge we have faced as a family.
