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
55000 KES ($535 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 to renovate my house by plastering it within three month is an amazing experience which I never expect to have achieved in a short period of time were it not been for GiveDircetly's transfers.I did not have a stable source of income which would necessitate me to achieve my dreams as I wanted . Before, I tried saving for the same but due to many family needs, I ended up using the savings on other family needs. l am now living on a very comfortable and clean house hence I am no longer worried that my family and I can be affected by jiggers or tiresomely wasting time to look for cow dung around the village for repairing my previous mad house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well through giving my money that had no condition on how it would be spent . Therefore, most of the beneficiaries had the opportunity to focus on projects that could better their lives. I do not see what GiveDirectly did wrong at its work.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy building materials such as cement and paid workers who facilitated the renovation of my house from the roof and cemented it. I bought three goats, two uniforms and shoes. I also bought food for my family's consumption.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having my own pit latrine has made my life to be totally different. This is because previously, my family and I used to relive ourselves in the bushes. This was totally unhygienic and most of the time we were always suffering from diseases such as typhoid and cholera. It was a really bad situation because every now and then we were always in the hospital. It was like a routine to my family that we were so desperate to put to an end. This was even affecting my children at school because it was difficult for them to concentrate on their studies because they were sick most of the time. But the coming of GiveDirectly has changed everything completely. We are no longer falling sick like before because we have our own pit latrine that has freshwater. I am so grateful to this organization because it has brought a major positive impact on my life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3:38 am when I received a message notification. When I checked its content I realized it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was so happy since It was my first time receiving such a huge amount of money. I was so sure that my dream will finally be achieved because finally, I had the means to start a business and establish myself.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials. I bought cement, sand, and wire mesh and pipes to construct with the aim of building a pit latrine. Previously we used to go the bush to relieve ourselves since we had no decent latrines. This lead to an outbreak of waterborne diseases such as cholera, and typhoid especially during the rainy seasons. I am glad moving forward I won't be part of this disaster. In addition to building the pit latrine, I took the remaining materials to renovate my house. I also paid for some school fees and bought a new school uniform. I finally used the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an opportunity for me to start an income generating activity that can help me cater for the basic needs of my family such as food and education without relying so much on my spouse. With my teaching background, I intend to use the knowledge and skill to start an adult learning programme just within my village. I will finish constructing my house which will be the classroom in the mean time as I figure out another alternative. All that is remaining is plastering the walls, cemented floor and doors for the toilet. The rest of the transfers will go into purchasing livestock that I can care for during my free time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is the afternoon because I get to sleep and rest. I have a 3 month old baby who has a very hard time sleeping at night thus keeping me awake till 4am in the morning at times. Surprisingly, she sleeps soundly in the afternoon and I am able to take a nap too.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I woke up one day with an ultimatum from my spouse to either quit my teaching job at a local primary school or pack my things and leave. He also discouraged me from joining college where I wanted to expand my knowledge and skills in Early Childhood Education. I chose to keep my marriage and I'm now forced to stay home to just care for the children and my ailing mother in law. It's very hard for me because now I solely depend on my spouse's unreliable income from his casual job in Mombasa town to cater for all our needs. As a result, construction of our house and toilet is stalled and our four children are consistently sent home due to fee balances.
