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 ($462 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?
Initially, my goal was to construct a concrete water tank at my rental premise. This would help me to have a water reservoir thus I shall have adequate water for domestic use. Upon completing this goal, my additional plan is to fix connection of county water supply to my rental premise. As a result of this, I shall be able to have steady water supply for sale in order to raise an additional money for my family. The whole process requires upto KES 60,000. However, at the moment I have raised KES 20,000.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Despite the fact that in my community males dominate, GiveDirectly does so well in enrolling majority of women in its program. This has helped many households since women are very thoughtful, caring and driven with family concerned. They rarely misuse their transfers. Unlike in other scenarios where majority of men are enrolled, more funds are misused. In my opinion, GiveDirecrly can improve on its service delivery by ensuring that during the enrolment, both the wife and the husband should be around. Through this, they can actively participate in answering suvery questions together thus minimize misunderstanding cases that may arise as a result of the transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I have a long term goal of building an additional rental houses, I spent KES 50,000 from my recent transfer to buy a parcel of land. This is a lucrative business that will help me to raise monthly rent that will be sufficient for me to pay school fees for my daughter who is currently in primary school and my two younger children who are yet to join school. In addition, with this kind of investment, I shall find it easy to support my children through the provision of food. This will supplement the income from my current small restaurant business whose profit has been insufficient to meet my households daily needs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 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 with my husband in our house taking our dinner. My mobile phone was with him at that time, I remember it was around 8 pm when we received the message from GiveDirectly indicating that I had received the transfer. I was so happy and thanked the organization for keeping to its promises6 I was quite sure that I will finally meet my goals in life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am living a happy life after completing my desire of constructing a concrete water tank. Furthermore, my kids are enjoying wearing new clothes. I am sure that I will store enough water for my family as well as sell extra to earn a living.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My desire had been to complete the construction of my concrete water tank of 8 by 27 feet. I had started the construction but It halted due to lack of enough money. I intend to start a water vending business at my home, this is because we are frequently experiencing drought in our area. I will be able to sell
them at KES 10 per 20litres. In addition, I will be buying water from the lorries and storing it in my tank during the drought season. In addition, I bought new clothes for my 3 kids and bought food with the remaining.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a good house for me. I live in a polygamous household. The house we currently live in is too small to comfortably host my cowife and I. I have 3 children and my co wife is blessed with two children. This big family makes the house too congested. Living under a congested house is unhealthy especially for my new born son. There can be a risk of diseases outbreak. I had already started constructing a house but I was stuck at the foundation level due to lack of funds. I intend to continue with the construction once I receive the transfers. The house will roughly cost 30,000 KES. Once the house is complete, I will shift to the new house together with my cowife and leave the previous one to our children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My new born son has brought so much joy in my life. I safely delivered a very healthy baby boy 3 weeks ago. He made me a proud mother of 3 children. Some few days ago, he had some health related complications that needed medical attention. I am now glad that he is very much okay.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband is suffering from diabetes. He was first diagnosed with the disease in 2019. From that time, life has been very challenging. He is always under medication. The medicine costs us roughly 2,000 KES per month. This is expensive for us because we have no steady income. My husband is no longer strong to work. The disease has left him so weak. The doctors advised my husband to get an insulin injection but due to lack of funds, this has not been possible. Seeing my husband suffer leaves me so devastated.
