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 ($467 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?
My initial goal was to build a better and spacious house.I live in a two roomed mud house which is not stable and falling off for more than four years now.My plan is to build a three roomed house which is bigger and spacious for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly has done well in providing funds because most of us now have decent homes and some own livestock.It has really changed our lifestyle in terms of infrastructure.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my recent transfer in buying a cow for KES 32000 and bought some household furniture for KES 2500.The rest of the cash I still have it and am using it on my daily food expenditure.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was on my farm that morning when I heard the celebrations from the other villagers. I could not guess what it was at first that they were celebrating and since I had left my phone back at home, I had to ask the passers-by and the news was that GiveDirectly had sent the promised amount to our accounts. I was so certain that mine was in as well and could not bother running back home but completed the work first. My children were eager to confirm and when we got back home, that was the first thing we did. We were so excited to see the Mpesa message bearing the huge figures. We thanked God and since the plans were already in place, we had to make arrangements on when to start the spending with my husband.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a new house. Currently, we are enjoying peace of mind devoid of all the complaints that we could hear every morning from my in-laws who needed us to move out of the parents' property as they needed all that was in it to be inherited equally among them. My children also feel good in the new structure and just like any other family within our village, we have a testimony of the great transformation witnessed just after the first transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After a long time of arguments and complaints from my brothers-in-law over the house that we inherited from our parents, GiveDirectly finally gave us a chance to move on to our own home after constructing a new house. We immediately purchased all the construction materials after the first transfer and paid labor charges at a total cost of KES4400. With my family of six, we are now comfortable in a new structure where no one can complain about anymore. I also purchased new jackets for my two sons each at KES1500 as I promised the younger son and the daughter to wait for the second transfer to get a new pair too. With the remaining amount, I purchased two sacks of dry maize grains each at KES3200 and other household items that we were missing. I am grateful for the great changes we can now see and looking forward to still pushing the limits with the second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improved housing for my family. Initially, we had acquired the building materials from our savings to build a house but we failed to actualize that dream because of our family's ever-changing needs; we had school fees arrears and bought land elsewhere. Our ambition now is to actualize our dream through the transfer. I intend to spend approximately KES 50,000 to accomplish the whole process. I was so excited when I learned that Give Directly was coming to our village.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is at night. The day starts early in the morning after my three school-going children have left for school. My normal day entails looking after our two dairy cows from morning until late in the evening with a lunch break of 1.5 hours. During that time of the day, many negative things run in my mind which makes life boring. Nights in the village are silent magic filled with crickets, faraway frogs, a distant howling dog & a deep chasm of darkness. I sleep the deepest in the village—like a stone at the bottom of a river while nothing runs in my mind.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a housewife and my husband runs a butchery business in a nearby town earning an estimated wage of KES 400 a day. Since our recurrent expenditure is huge because I have school fees to cater to and other domestic expenses, that cash is hardly enough to accomplish our dream (of putting up a better house). I have three school-going children who are all in primary level and their school expenses amounts to approximately KES 10,000 a year. We have been unable to save enough cash and better our family's living standards. Therefore, financial inadequacy has been the biggest hardship we have faced in life.
