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 ($386 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I hold a heartfelt aspiration to launch my own business, centered around selling fresh fruits and vegetables. Around September, with the little cash my supportive spouse has been giving me, I plan to set my entrepreneurial journey in motion. I am hopeful that my small business will grow into something truly remarkable, not just for me but for the people I serve. With hard work and perseverance, I am excited to embark on this journey and turn my dreams into a fruitful reality.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has truly excelled in their mission to help the needy and change lives, and I am living proof of their incredible impact. With their unconditional money, my life has taken a complete turn for the better. As a struggling individual, the support I received from GiveDirectly provided me with a lifeline, enabling me to meet my basic needs and pursue opportunities I once thought were out of reach. Therefore, I do not see anything negative that has to be changed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My heart was heavy with worry as my new house was still incomplete, and I feared for my family's future in the old, crumbling structure. With the second transfer, I wasted no time and used $250 to purchase much-needed construction materials like sand, cement, and iron sheets. It was a race against time, but I was determined to finish the house and provide a safe haven for my three family members. With the weight of homelessness lifted, I turned my attention to securing a brighter future for my son. I used $40 to pay his fees for PP2, ensuring he could continue his education without disruption. His bright smile when he saw his new uniforms, bought with $37 from the transfer, filled my heart with pride and contentment. Additionally, I decided to invest in our comfort and bought a larger bed and a comfortable mattress for $125. The difference it made was incredible, and I finally got a good night's sleep after months of discomfort. With what was left, I purchased essential groceries to fill my kitchen and some new decent clothes for everyone in the family, ensuring that we could face the world with dignity. Despite my spouse's modest earnings as a taxi driver, the unconditional cash transfers came as a lifeline, helping us to create a brighter and more stable future for our family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($440 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Being a housewife, I was at home relaxing after completing to my household chore. It was around 5 pm and had just arrived from our women's financial group. I was alerted by the loud message notification on the phone. I felt extremely happy about receiving the transfer, I called my spouse to inform him about the good news, and he promised to come back home in a week since he was at work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in our life is the fact that we own a nice house for the family. I can not wait to finalize by putting doors and to relocate to the new house. I will no longer have to suffer during rain seasons due to the leaking roof.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We have been living in a small, grass-thatched house that was leaking during the rain period. I had desired to own a decent semi- permanent brick house for the family. After receiving the transfer, I spent most of the it to construct a nice one-roomed semi-permanent house. In addition, I used $50 of the remaining amount to enrol my kid in primary school. Furthermore, I used the rest of the money to connect tap water at our home. Previously, we had to walk 1 km to get clean water for family use.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Currently I have a single room house that is nearly ten by ten feet with grass thatched roof and mud walls. Above that, the roof is badly leaking during rainy seasons and so we have even had to reinforce it with some polythene material to try and control. My family is also growing and very soon if I keep this house I'll start experiencing privacy challenges sharing it with my children especially male ones. I therefore feel it's in order to construct a slightly bigger one, preferably two roomed with this grant. This might cost a total of $500 or more, but I would be happy to set it rolling.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband lives in Garissa town where he works as a motorcycle taxi rider. He rarely visits us at home due to the nature of his job; he has to physically work to be able to earn. Sometimes it might even take up to seven months before he shows up. As a married woman, my genuine happiness depends on these visits and the last one was two months ago. I can't just express how joyous that felt!
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I used to cut trees to make firewood for sale but had to stop during my last pregnancy because I had a lot of related complications. That was two years ago and since then, I haven't had any source of income other than the $5 a week I do receive from my husband who works in Garissa as motorcycle taxi rider. This has a lot of inconveniences which is already reflecting negatively on the health of my children as they all look mulnaurished. Depending solely on my husband's support, I haven't been able to offer them more than a meal per day.
