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 ($421 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We value cattle so much in my community. At times people pity you when you do not own even a cow. They could not imagine how your children survive without milk. This makes me feel bad now that I am part of those people without cattle. I am working hard to see that I buy my family a dairy cow. This will enable me to produce plenty of milk for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Apart from enrollment, GiveDirectly took its time to sensitize the community and give advisory messages on the use of the transfer. People were also taught about the risks associated with money. As they were warming up to receive their transfers, they had ideas and plans on what to spend their money on. It was unfortunate that some people never qualified for the program which was painful for them. How I wished that all people benefitted in my village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Our house was small and not enough for us. I was not sure where I could have gotten money to build a better and a spacious house for my family. It was until when GiveDirectly came to our village that I realized that my dream has come true. Having used my first transfer to sort out my priority needs. I decided to spend all of my second transfer to build a three-roomed house for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. The money came at around 6:00 pm and I was with my husband who was equally very happy when I shared the good news with him. I later withdrew the money and spent it on areas that we had agreed on as a family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that we are one happy family than we were before receiving the funds from GiveDirectly. The money came when we were facing tough economic times such that buying food was a problem. The cost of maize was skyrocketing just as the cost of other basic household needs. Buying food alone brought so much joy to us as a family since we did not have to stress ourselves on where we would get our next meal like we had always been. Having bought some of the building materials has also brought a lot of satisfaction to me and I am looking forward to seeing it complete. Once complete, this shall mean that I will be able to live comfortably in my new house. I am looking forward to seeing the house come to completion.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 41000 to buy iron sheets for a house that we are yet to start constructing. The remaining amount of money was used to buy food and clothes for the rest of family members. I have always had a desire to build a bigger and better house since the one that I currently live in is mud walled and is not very easy to maintain yet age is catching up with me and I find it hard to maintain. I plan to buy timber and other building materials once I get my second transfer and I will be good to go with the construction of the house. Once complete, this will save me a lot of time and energy that I would require to maintain a mud walled house.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Our family land was subdivided 5 years ago but unfortunately we settled in a swampy area. Whenever it rains, we face a lot difficulty because water oozes into the house. For this reason, we have been aspiring to relocate to another land which is on a higher ground. We are glad that soon this will materialize through the transfer from Give Directly. We intent to spend the entire transfers to build and settle in a better place and live a comfortable life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have chest problem that have become chronic and I have been frequenting the hospital. This condition started 5 years ago but for the last 2 months, I have not had the complication and this has brought joy and happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We rely on the casual labor that my husband does to make ends meet. The work itself is hard to come by and I am a housewife with a family of 4. Whenever he gets a job to do, his earnings are hardly enough to cater to the entire family and save. His average earnings on a day are KES 200. We have been unable to save enough cash that can sustain the entire family and move our house to a better place because we live in a swampy area. Therefore, the inadequacy of funds is the biggest challenge we are currently facing and this angers me as a parent.
