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
53150 KES ($437 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?
My new goal is to invest in livestock specifically goats. I chose goats over cows because goats can survive without water for a longer time compared to cows. Through this investment, I will be able to cater to my children's education.
The aim of investing in goats is that they are cheap to maintain and they have read markets since they are affordable and thus can be converted to monetary value anytime the need arises.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Biasness and favoritism were nowhere related to GiveDirectly during enrolling beneficiaries in our village. Every household benefited from the program and this made most of us change our lives to be better. I echo the good work of the organization and I pray it continues impacting the lives of other people in its new areas of operation.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the second transfer, I opted to build a new spacious house. This is because the one I had was very small and despite being small it was a multipurpose house. I used it as a store as well as a kitchen too. Therefore, I used $400 to construct a spacious house and leave the small one to be a kitchen and a store. As of now, I am very happy since I live a comfortable life. I am no longer disturbed by smock after cooking like before when I used to stay outside the house till very late at night to allow the smoke to subsdise before going to sleep. I also used $40 to buy an extra mattress for visitors to sleep on whenever I get any. For the remaining amount, I bought some food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 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 resting away from the scorching sun under a tree when my helper approached me and broke the good news to me I had received my first transfer. I was thrilled, and I immediately stood up and broke into a dance and ululated loudly, attracting the attention of my relatives. The tears of joy rolled down our cheeks as I hugged my helper.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference I have had since receiving the transfer is the building of the new house. I live comfortably in my new spacious house that accommodates all my family members (husband and two children). I no longer have to worry about the roof leaking during the heavy downpour.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The house I live in is too tiny to accommodate both my husband and me. When I received my first transfer, I spent KES 11000 on buying building poles, KES 17100 buying 18 pieces of iron sheets, 1 kg nails, and some pieces of wood to build a new two-bedroom house. Together with my husband, we earn a living through the sale of charcoal. We earn very little from this business because of the low demand for charcoal. Besides building the house, I spent KES 5000 on buying a mattress because all my life I have slept on a sisal twine bed which is very uncomfortable, as a result, I developed severe back pains that have affected my health. Due to the unreliable source of income, I spent the remaining amount on buying food for my family to avoid us from lacking any food to eat.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would like to build a spacious house upon receiving this money. I have been living in a small house that is not partitioned between the kitchen and the bedroom. I could have erected one but due to financial issues, I am still using the same house for twenty years now. Therefore I plan to utilize seventy thousand Kenya shillings to construct a three Bedroom muddy house, sixteen thousand to purchase beddings, and the remaining amount to start a business of buying and selling goats, this will be a dream come true.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two months back my daughter-in-law gave birth to a baby girl who was named after my name. This made me happy because I have got a young version of me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Getting a reliable job is a challenge that I am currently facing. I do casual jobs that involve burning charcoal and fetching water to my fellow villagers to earn a living. My husband does the construction of the local houses around here using mad and the job cannot be relied on since most of the people build houses during the rainy season. The prolonged drought has affected my work currently, I and my husband depend on charcoal burning of which we earn six hundred Kenya shillings in a week which is not enough to purchase food and save to build a better house. Hopefully receiving GiveDirectly transfers will change our lives.