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 ($491 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have build a better house. I used to live in a small grass thatched house which was leaking from inside. This was so challenging especially during the rainy season. When I received the second transfer I felt it's so worth to compete the construction of a house which I started using the previous transfer. Currently we live in a better spacious house. Before my family were exposed to cold, I was so worried because I didn't want them to get sick. I depend on small scale farming and the harvest that we get is only for consumption. I do not have a continuous source of income to enable me buy building materials. Givedirectly has changed our living standard. My children are no longer exposed to cold and I no longer fear to welcome visitors to my house. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for coming through our live has really changed.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on completing the construction of a house that I started using the previous transfer. Currently I live in a better house. I also paid school fees for my children in various schools, the rest of the money I bought a heifer and food for the family. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
We were just from the farm after getting done with the day’s work when I heard a message notification on my phone. I checked it and I could not believe it when I saw that it was a message saying that we had received the lump sum amount of 55000/= from GiveDirectly. I was so happy to see this and I called my whole family around and showed them. They were extremely happy too and we rejoiced together. That day, we took our lunch with so much happiness in us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a very big difference in my life and that of my family. I have been able to build another house that I have always desired to build for my family. We will hence be able to live comfortably and well free from any leakages on the roof. The transfer has also enabled me to clear the school fee arrears that I still had. Having done the two, I now have peace of mind and I no longer worry about where I am going to get the money to do the above. My children too are happy because they were able to get new clothes for themselves. Thank you GiveDirectly for helping me fulfill my dreams.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This transfer from GiveDirectly has helped me in a big way. I have been able to build a new house that I had never imagined that I would ever be able to build it. I wanted to build another house because the one that we have been living in it has become old and the roof had started leaking when it rains. I was not in a position to build another because I did not have a large sum of money that was going to be needed to construct it. I depend on farming as my source of livelihood and most of the money that I have been getting from farming has been going to payment of school fees for my children who are in secondary school. The transfer also helped me in clearing the school fees arrears that I still had for one of my children. I was also able to buy a few clothes for my children with part of the money.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a farmer and I mainly plant maize which I usually sell to help us pay school fees and other household bills. Over the past ten years on average I have been able to make between US $150-200 from farming this crop. Lots of this maize has however been going bad because I do not have proper storage for keeping them after harvesting. I have not been able to plant more also because the storage won't be enough at the time of harvesting. I would like to build a modernized, bigger store with these transfers and this will increase the income am making to an average of US$40 a year. With that I will no longer be struggling with paying school fees and other bills for this house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a farmer who spends most of my day in the farm. The happiest part is usually at mid-day when am tending to my crops. It makes me happy to see the crops growing well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In the year 2019, there was extensive drought in this place. I couldn't farm like any other year and it is farming that I usually depend much on. This affected my income and two of my children had to defer studies. I was so worried about their future I had no peace of mind.
