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
55000 KES ($534 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?
Before GiveDirectly came, I already had my hotel business, but it was not doing good enough because I wasn't cooking variety of foods, therefore, I had few customers. With the transfers, I am glad that no customer has to turn away for lack of his or her desired meal. I am now able to make more savings and provide for my family since I am the breadwinner after my husband was attacked by stroke thereafter rendered him helpless. I also own a dairy cow and its calf which is a big achievement and a life changer which I could not have obtained without GiveDirectly
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well through assisting us with unconditional transfers that has lead to a big improvement on our way of life. I do not see what GiveDirectly at its work
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy a heifer with its calf . I paid all the arrears for my daughter who was in secondary school by then . I am happy that she will have ease in collecting her secondary school certificate since she doesn't owe the school. The remaining amount I bought timbers which I intend to use them in building my house . I also boosted my small hotel business.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($538 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
My life is currently different because I have been able to fulfil what has been my greatest desire; to have a decent and permanent house. We are used to building muddy houses and chances of upgrading to a better house are always minimal due to inadequate resources. When I received this money, I managed to buy some building materials. I bought blocks, sand and cement for renovating my mud-walled house. I am now in the process of rebuilding this house. I feel good because were it not for this organization then I would not have been able to upgrade to a better and decent house. To me this is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the transfer notification early that morning, and at first, I thought it was the normal messages from Safaricom, but to my surprise, it was an Mpesa message from Give Directly that I had received my first transfer. I was filled with happiness and joy. I remember thanking them for the financial assistance
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 10000 of my first transfer to pay for my son's school fees. I cleared his fees in advance so that as he resumes his studies for the final year, without being interrupted by being sent home due to school fee arrears. In addition to this, I also spent KES 7000 to hire a tractor to prepare my farm. By doing this, I am assured of getting a good harvest unlike before when I could not maximally utilize my farm due to inefficient farm inputs and tools. Apart from all this, I also spent KES 18000 to purchase some building materials. I bought bricks, sand and cement in order to renovate my old house. It was a mud-walled house and my intention was to rebuild it to make it more appealing. I am now in the process of doing this and I feel good we will no longer live in a shanty house. I spent the remaining amount to buy daily foodstuffs and settled other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I am the sole breadwinner, it has been my desire to have a stable source of income. Before, I had a grocery store but it was destroyed by a heavy downpour early this year. I suffered a loss and ever since then, I haven't been able to build another one. At the moment, I operate from home, a situation that is so inconveniencing given that the house we are currently living in is not spacious enough. Therefore, receiving this money will enable me to reestablished my business. This will earn me a daily income that can comfortably meet the needs of the family. Apart from that, I intend to improve our house my extending one room. And for the rest of the transfers, my husband needs medical attention, and this will go towards his health care. I hope he will be able to walk again because the pain I have endured for the past seven years is unimaginable.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon is the happiest part of my day. This is the time I take a break between morning and evening chores. In the morning, I normally attend to household chores and my husband care since he cannot do anything by himself. In the evening is when I attend to my small business and it mostly entails moving from house to house selling groceries.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband suffered a stroke 7 years ago, and ever since, he has been bedridden. We stayed in the hospital for over 6 months, but he showed no sign of progress and since the cost of medication was overwhelming increasing, we had to bring him home. At the moment, for him to move, he has to be aided. This has cost a lot of pain and suffering to the family and the little resources we had are long gone. As a result, I haven't been able to adequately provide for the family in terms of food, clothing, education, and even better health care.
