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 ($517 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?
Having a good, spacious and iron-roofed house is the biggest difference in my life because of the transfers. I had plans of putting up a new house but since I could not afford the resources, I was not able to. This is where GD came and saved me because I was stranded on how to achieve thjis goal. but with the transfers, I was able to buy building materials which I used to put up a house of my preference. Thanks to GD.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I feel GD did well to come and seek to understand our livelihood before giving us help. They gave us what we needed. There is nothing GD did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my transfer on buying building materials such as nails and iron sheets which I have used to complete building my new house. Without the transfers, I would not be having a new house by now. I also used the transfers to pay school fees for my children. This helped to clear their arrears which is my biggest step. I also bought three goats as an investment and to be in the same level as my colleagues who have livestock in their homesteads.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I have been hoping to build a nice and decent house to live in for long but due to the financial constraints I was facing, I could not fulfil this. I am a casual laborer and the little money I raise per day wasn't enough to cater for both household daily needs and construction of a new house. Through the coming of GiveDirectly, I managed to buy some building materials which include building poles for this purpose. I am expecting my new house to be completed soon and the hope of realizing my goal of having a decent house gives me biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken by a message notification early in the morning that day, on checking to confirm the content of the message, I was shocked to realized that GiveDirectly had sent us money. I didn't believe my eyes, I felt so happy to receive such financial support.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
The house that I was previously sheltering in was very small such that it could not even accommodate my family. I was in need to construct a spacious house but due to scarce resource in our family, I was not able. When I received this amount of money, I purchased building poles to start off the construction of a decent spacious house. In addition to this, I purchased some five goats to rear in my homestead which I am hoping that they will reproduce and increase in number. I did not have enough foodstuffs in my household thus I spent the remaining amount on food and some shopping on clothing for my children.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My life desire has been to own a spacious house for my family and a cafe business, but due to financial instability, I am forced to live in a very disasterous house that is not worthy for living. Being a single parent who is employed as a labourer in a small cafe that earns me only one hundred shillings per day, my income can not support my family's basic needs. Receiving this money means enabling me to meet my life goals. I will construct a good house for myselfy with my first transfer. I also plan to use my second transfer to start a cafe business. This will be my reliable source of income and hence this will changing my life for the better.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning, I prepare my children to school. After they have gone, I walk to my work a distance of two kilometers away. I spend the whole day working and come back home in the evening when I am weak and tired. Although exhausted, it is at this time when I get ample time to rest. Therefore, evening is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband seperated me three years ago due to lack of dowry. This forced me to return to my maternal home with my three children. Since I am the only bread winner for my kids, I am forced to engage in Labourious jobs in order to provide our meals. My current job as a labourer at a small cafe does not earn me enough to sustain our needs. Therefore, i consider lack of reliable source of income as my biggest hardship.
