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 ($521 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
For the past two years, I have been living in a grass thatched house with a leaking roof. It has been a struggle, especially during the rainy season because whenever it rains when my family and I are away, there is always water in the house which has been very destructive on my properties. As a result, I have had to lose many items due to rains and most nights too we don't sleep comfortably. This is why I had plans of building a new house but due to low income from casual work of ploughing on other people's farms, I was not able to achieve the goal. This is why I used my transfers to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber which I am currently using in building a new house. This will help me solve the issue once and for all.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I feel GD did well in enrolling everyone who consented to the project. It is the best way because it did away with quarrels and complaints among villagers. For me, GD did well in everything. There is nothing they could have done better.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my transfer on buying building materials such as iron sheets which I am now using to put up a new house. I used to live in a house with a leaking roof and it was strenuous for my family. I had plans of building a new house but did not have the resources which GD has really bailed me out. I also used part of my transfer on buying a cow as investment and remembrance of GD. I also bought food for my family and for the masons who will construct my house. The remaining amount, I have saved for future use and to buy new household items such as seats when I am done with the construction of the new house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Receiving this money was a big relief from the biggest financial hardships I have faced for years. I was mainly depending on burning and selling charcoal for a living. My health had deteriorated as a result of the hefty casual jobs that I used to do to ensure I made ends meet. My life is currently different because ever since I started receiving transfers from Give Directly, providing for my family has never been a problem. I also purchased a few goats. These goats will reproduce and I will be selling the offspring to educate my children. I am glad I will no longer depend on charcoal burning to earn a living.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message notification early in the morning. It was unusual to get a message at such an hour and I was curious to know who the sender was. When I checked, I realized that I had received some money from GiveDirectly. I was greatly overjoyed because I had never received such an amount before. I never even dreamed of ever getting that much in my life. I thanked GiveDirectly for this fortune.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I have always been looking into ways of how I would improve my children's quality of education and comfort them with basic needs such as food and decent clothes. Thus I resolved to buy goats which to me is part of the savings for the future of my children's education. I believe these goats are going to multiply and lean on them in case of a financial problem. I also took a portion of the money and purchased some building materials which include a few building poles and iron sheets. I am building a new house in order to accommodate my children who have been seeking shelter from the neighbourhood. I also paid school fees for them and spent the remaining amount to meet my families basic needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Improved food production has been my thought for long but this has never been possible since I depend on traditional methods of farming. I usually till my farm to a maximum of 1acre, a portion that is too small for me to get enough harvests. If it means using oxen, I have to make charcoal and sell in order to pay the labour fee and in most cases, I get late in land preparation. My option is to spend Ksh36000 on oxen and ox plough purchase exclusively and this will assure me of early land preparation and planting, something that will guarantee me more harvests. On the other hand, I am planning to spend Ksh20000 on extending 1 room for myself because currently, we live in one room with my 4 family members and our beds has occupied the whole room leaving no space. In addition, my beddings are unworthy to be used by a human being and I rarely get an enjoyable sleep since I am always waking up in the middle of the nights to change position due to the pains I get from the bed ropes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend my morning hours at farm and part of my afternoon hours at the bush doing the charcoal work. In the evening, I get ample time to relax and share our dinner with my family members. Therefore, I consider evening being the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life has never been favourable to me since the death of my husband 3 years ago. Since I had depended on him for my basic needs provision, his loss gave me a panic since I knew that I would assume his role of providing for the family. Since then, I decided to be a charcoal burner but this work is energy draining and its income cannot fully support my basic needs. Therefore, I consider financial instability being my biggest hardship.
