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 ($488 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We have a goal of building another permanent house. The house that we live in is made of mud. Getting mud for smearing the walls and the floor is becoming quite a challenge. I also do not have the time to mud the house due to the nature of my job. I am a teacher and hence I spend most of my time in school. We have always wanted to construct another house but we were not able to due to a lack of money. I was still in college studying and hence that is where most of the money that we were making used to go to. We were not even able to construct it with the money that we got from GiveDirectly because I was still studying and hence we used the money on settling my college fees. We plan to get the money for starting the construction of the house from farming and a little from our jobs as teachers. We plan to plant onions and pepper and when they are ready, we are going to sell them. My husband and I are casually employed as teachers and we plan to save part of the little money that we get paid so that we can use it in buying the construction materials. With the new house, we will no longer have to worry about the challenges of getting mud and also our house will be looking good just like that of others in the community.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly enabled me to pay for my college fees and as a result, I have been able to complete my studies. Apart from that, they have changed the lives of the people in the community for the better. Most people have been able to do what they were never able to do due to a lack of money. They were able to build new houses, pay school fees, and buy water tanks among many. We are therefore so thankful to GiveDirectly for everything. We urge them to continue with the good work that they are doing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent the entire second transfer on buying a motorcycle. We decided to buy the motorcycle because the school where my husband usually teaches is very far. He hence usually incurs a lot of costs traveling. He spends approximately KES 750 when the roads are good but when they are bad, he spends approximately KES 1000 to reach there. This is costly to him because he is casually employed at the school. We were not able to buy the motorcycle before because we didn't have the money. Most of the money that we used to make used to go to the payment of my college fees. With having bought the motorcycle, my husband has been able to save some money because he no longer incurs a lot of costs on traveling, he just needs to pay for the fuel. Also, the motorcycle has been of great help to us whenever my husband is at home because he is able to rush very quickly to get something that we might be needing in the household or at the farm. We are therefore so much grateful to GiveDirectly for the help they have given unto us.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. It was around 9:40 when the message came. That time I was at the classroom teaching. I had left the phone in the staffroom. When I was done with the lessons I went to check my phone as usually. I could not even believe my eyes. There was message confirming that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and immediately called my spouse to inform him of the money. He was so happy. When the time arrived to go home I speed up so that we could get enough time to plan. I knew I would be able to pay my college fees on time. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have paid my college fees. I study at a teacher's college in Bomet. I do study during the weekends. I am also a teacher at a nearby private school. I had so many arreas at the collage, this was making me worried because it could have stopped me from during some exams. I do teach at a private school, The salary that I get is so small and cannot enable me to clear the fees. My spouse does casual jobs in the village and the money that he gets is for the basic needs of the family. When I received the transfer from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew I would pay the school fees. Currently I have peace of mind because I know I will sit for my final college examination. Were it not GiveDirectly this could not have happened. We are so grateful for the support because it has brought us hope and faith that all the plans we have as a family will be achieved.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25,000 to pay my college fees. I do study during the weekends at a teacher's college in Bomet. During the weekdays I teach at a nearby private school. I spent some money on clothes and food for the family. The rest of the money I saved with a plan to combine with the second transfer to purchase a Dairy cow. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has given us hope to improve our living standard.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My family wants to own a dairy cow to produce milk and also act as a future investment.We are fortunate to get free milk from our parent but we feel like we put so much strain on her, she could be selling what she gives us and get an income. That is why when we receive this transfer we will purchase a cow worth $400 that will aid in providing milk for us and once it gives birth we can sell it in future and educate our children. The remaining amount will be used as follows, $250 in building a kitchen, $3.5 in buying a small water tank and the rest in paying school fees and finish my Diploma in Early Childhood Education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a teacher I spend most of my days in school teaching, I have to wake up early each day and be in school by 7. The rest of the day is spent in class or outside for physical studies. I get home at around 5 in the evening and that's when I'm the happiest, because I can rest and also do some studying of my own.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship we face as a family is job security and sustainable flow of income. Both my wife and I are teachers but our combined income amounts to only $200 per month. This is not enough to carter for our needs such as paying school fees, buying a cow or even furnishing our house.
