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 ($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?
My new goal is to complete the construction of my house by changing the roof since most of the timbers have rotten and is about to collapse. I am always fearing that the roof my be blown away by strong winds because it's not stable.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the GiveDirectly do well for offering training to the villagers. The officers conducted the enrollment process in an politely, open and fair without any discrimination.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to complete the construct the house for my 3 grown-up children which I started with my first transfer. They were seeking refuge from our neighbors something that worried me a lot. Every night they had to walk to our neighbors after taking their dinner. The neighbors had started complaining about the my kids. In addition, I used KES 14,500 to clear the fee arrears of my daughter who is in secondary school. With the remaining amount, I bought small households utensils.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can clearly recall the time, it was around 8.30am when I was at the garden guarding my crops from domestic animals which usually roam around in search for grasses, I received a message and upon checking it was the first transfer that we were promised to receive from Give Directly. I felt so excited knowing that I had got some solutions to the long term problems I have been facing.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My heart is now at peace. I am no longer being laughed at due to my children seeking refuge in neighbors’ homes during night hours. My home is now seen as a home because of the good house I constructed for my children. Initially it was just a living site but now it is a home. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for enabling me to build a home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The act of my children borrowing shelter from neighbors and friends every evening has been bothering me so much. Although my house is not in a good state but on receiving the money I decided to build a house for them first because them being comfortable was my joy. I bought 20 pieces of iron sheets for KES 17600.00, poles and rafters for KES 14000.00 and KES 2000.00 for transporting the materials to the site. The contractor asked for KES 10000.00 as his labour charges. I saved the remaining amount for emergencies, food and any other thing that would emerge in relation to the construction that was going on. As at now am hoping for the second transfer so that I can now renovate my house because it is also in a poor condition.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a family of six children who depend on me to meet their basic needs like food, shelter, education and other needs. However, I am not able to meet these needs since I depend on subsistence farming to get food for my family. Unfortunately, we are experiencing a long period of famine that make it difficult to get any yields from the small farm. My four children borrow shelter from neighbours everyday after eating supper. I am even afraid of keeping visitors overnight since I have nowhere to keep them.This makes me sad as other people look down upon me and see me as a failure who cannot provide for the basic needs of the family. I intend to use the first transfer to build a bigger house for my children and repair the small house I reside in with my wife. This will cost around $500. I will then use the second transfer to buy food and other basic needs for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. This is because at this time, we come together with my wife and children and have something for supper from the hustles of the day.It during this time that we connect and share stories that relieve me from the stresses of the day.Seeing my family happy as we eat together at this time brings joy to my heart.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment is the biggest challenge that I have ever faced in my life. My father denied me access to education which has contributed to this miserable life that I am currently living. This lack of education has gone along way to affecting my children education since I have no source of a stable income to sustain the needs of my family. Over the years I have been surviving on casual jobs like a watchman in a local secondary school. Later on in 2005 I lost my eye sight that made it difficult for me to engage in any economic activities for my family. I now depend on my wife to wash other people's clothes to get food and also the subsistence farming form our small piece of land.
