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 ($474 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The plans I had for this second transfer were to complete the house that I had started building using the first transfer because the house we had been living in was so small and not enough for the whole family. I also, took some of the money to service our motorcycle loan because it is my husband's occupation as he operates as a motorcycle taxi driver which is a source of income for us.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly, in my opinion, is doing everything right. Especially, with the financial assistance and freedom, it is giving us, we are able to properly prioritize and address the pressing challenges we are facing. I am so grateful and happy for your assistance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a huge part of the transfer in completing the house we started building with the first transfer because the house we were living in previously was so small and not enough for the whole family, as well as the household items, were also scattered all over as there was no enough space for all the items. This used to make me so stressed and sad, therefore, I spent a total of KES20000 to complete the bigger and better house as well as reinforce its mud walls with cement. I am now happy because everything is neatly arranged in the house and I am now stress-free. I also, spent KES10000 in servicing our motorcycle loan, because it is our regular and continuous source of income as it is operated by my husband a motorcycle taxi. With that, we are able to address the day-to-day challenges that we are going to face. I am happy and settled, all thanks to GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At mid-morning, I was at home chatting with my neighbour when I heard my phone beep. To my surprise, I saw the message notification letting me know that I had received cash from GiveDirectly. The sombre mood I had from my children being sent home for lack of school fees was immediately replaced by overwhelming joy. I could not believe this was happening.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is my family now lives in a spacious, modern house that meets our needs.
Before receiving this transfer from GD, we lived in a small, run-down house. The single room could barely accommodate the seven of us. There was no sense of privacy and this stripped us of our dignity as a family.
All this changed once we received the transfer. We have built a house big enough to give us enough privacy. We have our sense of dignity back. Our lives have truly transformed for the better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I prioritized the construction of a new house because the one we lived in was too small for our family. My husband, five children and I shared a single room. It could barely accommodate all of us.
So when I received the transfer, I spent KES 42,000 on the construction of a spacious house that could meet our needs as a family. I then spent KES 10,000 to pay off the final instalment for a motorbike that my husband had purchased to enable him to earn a living and provide for our family's needs. Lastly, I spent KES 2,000 to pay for school fees for my three children. I'm so glad that they can now stay in school and learn.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means owning my own piece of land. I live on family a land. This has made me unable to make any decision regarding farming given that the land belongs to the entire extended family. This has rendered my family food insecure given that the piece of land we farm is small and not sustainable to my family of eight. Moreover, owning your own land gives you a good position where you can decide on what to do with the piece of land. I will use 600 dollars from this transfer to buy two acres of land at 300 dollars each. This will increase my family's food productivity and at the same time earn my family the great respect of owning our own piece of land.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Waking up alive and healthy is the greatest joy ever given that other people are struggling in hospitals.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is lack of money to cater for my children school fees. My husband is a motorcycle rider in town, an occupation that is not reliable. This has made us struggle to educate our children and seeing my children sent home due to lack of school fees makes me sad and hopeless.
