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 ($435 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have my eyes set on building a big house, with a toilet inside. That would greatly improve the quality of life for both myself and my kids. Further to that, I am believing that we will be able to buy a dairy cow so that we can be drinking milk with our tea daily. In general, my goals are to better my family's lives as best I can.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
As a beneficiary of GiveDirectly great work, I can attest to how much they change and impact lives, for the better! I would only ask that they continue to do their work, increase the number of recipients so more people can be beneficiaries as I and countless others have been.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a mother of 4 and a wife, it's not difficult to understand why my first priority was my kids fees, after having received the funds from GiveDirectly. I paid KES. 3,000 that was in arrears and additionally covered all the 2023 fees for my three kids in school. I then proceeded to buy 2 beds and 2 mattresses for myself and my kids. The reminder of the funds were then used to renovate my home. I bought iron sheets for the roof and had them installed. The reminder went to food for the family and clearing my personal debts. All my kids got to Makongeni Primary and are in Grades 7, 4 and nursery , while my youngest is 6 months old. The tuition fees are KES. 130, KES. 200 and KES. 140 per month respectively, and between my husband's boda boda job in Mazera fetching him KES. 500 to KES. 1,000 and the little I make from selling my cereals to the neighbours at KES. 20 or KES. 40 per cup of beans or kunde and the odd sack of maize at between KES. 4,000/ KES. 5,000, it's not hard to see that we needed the funds that GiveDirectly was offering and it truly changed our lives. We are eternally grateful.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had just woken up, sitting while nursing my newborn baby who I had given birth to two days ago. I remember well It was around 7 am when I took my phone so that I may call my husband who was away for work, inquiring about his wellbeing. I was so surprised when I saw the Mpesa message from Givedirectly on my phone indicating that I had received the transfer. I felt so happy about receiving my transfer and I called my husband to greet as well as inform him about the good news. He was very excited and promised to be home so that we may plan on how to use our transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now sleeping on comfortable bedding unlike before. Previously, I was facing a lot of challenges, especially at night due to the poor conditions of my bedding. I was always experiencing pain all over my body every morning. In addition, I am confident that I will stay in a nice house after completing my construction.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Constructing a decent house for my family was the biggest desire in my life. This is because my house was too small to fully accommodate our family of 5 members plus our household Items. I spent most of my transfer on purchasing the building materials as well as setting aside some amount for the labour charges. In addition, I used KES 9000 to purchase proper bedding for my family. Previously, I was using a small torn mattress that was not comfortable given that I was an expectant mother.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live with my family of three children, and my husband works in Mombasa and comes during weekends. Currently we are living in 1 roomed housed which also serves as a kitchen.
I find it very small and we squeeze to fit and sleep cormfotably, because of the soot that's come from cooking especially when the fire goes out.
Upon receiving the transfer I aspire to build an extra one room for my children and add a kitchen that will be away from sleeping space.
I also plan to buy a solar panel that will help in lighting and also help is charging out phones, which I could use it as income generating activity because we have to take our phones for charging like 30 minutes walk to and from and spend almost 50ksh on a weekly basis.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Whenever I wake up to see my family alive and healthy I give appreciation to the Almighty, a lot of families are suffering out there.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We lack clean water which we use for cooking, washing clothes and bathing, we buy a jerrican at 50ksh and in a day I need like 6 jerricans which cost me 300 KSH a day.
I lack lighting at home and most days we have to cook early or do homework with children very early,so I find it a big challenge and I hope I can solve this challenge earlier.
