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 ($515 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The house that I constructed with the financial help from GiveDirectly has made my life to be so different. This is because initially, I was sleeping in a semi-permanent house which was very small. It could not fit all my family member, some used to stay at my relatives which I was not comfortable with. Some of my properties were also stolen most of the time because there was no enough security. Secondly, some of my properties were destroyed by some rodents such as mice. It is now a relief to me because I am living with all my family members, all my properties are well secured and they are no longer destroyed. I don't think if I would have achieved all these if it were not for GD coming to my village.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did everything in a perfect way. The fact that the money was directly sent into my account and given the authority to choose how I would wish to spend the money on, was the best according to me. This is because everyone was free and it reduced the cases of one being robbed. In addition to that, there were no cases of bribery since the officers were very honest with their work so friendly.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying some building materials such as cement, bricks, and sand at a total KES 15000. This was for the building of a new house which I had been longing to buy for years but I could not afford it because of the financial crisis. My previous house was not spacious and in poor condition. I then paid the Masson KES 7000 as his labor fee. The amount of money that had remained I am using it in buying some foodstuffs for my family and some other items that I was lacking.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning a descent spacious house has made my life to be totally different. Since my spouse and I are old and jobless we have always been depending on our children who are not very stable financially. They have families as well. Getting a new house was not easy since they could only afford to give us food and cater to a few household expenses. The coming of GD into my life has changed my story. I am now sleeping under a nice iron-roofed house which is well plastered. We no longer suffer from the cold nights as we used to.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 am when my grandson broke the news by saying I had received my transfers from GD. I was very excited knowing that I will achieve what I have been longing for.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent apart of my first transfer on buying some building poles, iron sheets, nails, and some timber. This was for the purpose of the construction of a new house. previously I used to sleep under a small hut with some old grass-thatched roofing. I then paid the mason his labor fee at KES10000. I am planning to buy some goats as my potential assets. I will have to rear them because of the climatic condition of my village. They also require minimal supervision to maintain. I believe in the near future they will be of great help to me The reaming amount ai bought enough foodstuffs for my family and other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Changing my housing status is my longest desired dream that I have never fulfilled in my life due to financial challenges. Since I was married, I never imagined sleeping in an iron roofed house that I can call mine because my husband has no job to enable him construct one. This has forced us to borrow some pieces of iron sheets to make a structure that can spare us from the harsh cold seasons. When I heard the coming of GiveDirectly to our village, my point of having a decent house appears to be real since I am planning to use utmost $400 on house construction. This will place me in line with the life standard of other people in our homestead. In addition, I purpose to use $300 to buy an oxen that will help me to upscale my farming and also to hire to my neighbours on fee. Achieving all these means a better life and that is my long wished transformation.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon is the happiest part of my day because it is at this time when I get my first meal for the day. Unlike in the morning when I wake up with all the stress of taking up my day's work hungry while evening meets me when fully exhausted with charcoal burning and farm work.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a subsistence farmer in an area like ours can be a big challenge since rains are usually unpredictable. Considering that my husband is jobless, the only hope we have is on our son who sends us utmost $20 per month for food since our charcoal business is no longer dependable. Therefore, inadequacy of finances to sustain of basic needs has been my biggest hardship.
