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 ($442 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?
After utilizing the second transfer as per my plans, I developed another goal that I aim to accomplish. If I get some money I want to fix tap water at my home. Currently, we have to move to a longer distance to get some water.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly shaped my life. It is an organization that cannot be compared to any other. It held my hand from scratch to somewhere I felt like a human being. I used to sleep on a small-broken traditional bed. I was not happy about the situation but I had no alternative. Through the transfer from GiveDirectly, I was able to get a modern standard bed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the money, my house was collapsing due to the poor state it was in. Concerning that, I bought 10 bags of cement for KES 7000.00, I also bought hard corals for KES 5000.00. Thereafter, I bought 2 doors and four goats for KES 8500.00 and 17500.00 respectively. Since I had no bed, I opted to buy a bed and a mattress for KES 19000.00 and used the remaining amount in buying food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 pm. I was just relaxing at home with my family waiting for supper ready when I heard a message tone on my phone. When I checked it out I could not believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and immediately informed my spouse and everyone celebrated with lots of joy. It was the happiest day of our lives. We knew we would be able to purchase the building materials and renovate our house to look decent. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased all the necessary building materials ready to start the renovation of my house. We live in a mud floor house and it has been my wish to blaster it. This is to reduce the dust particle to which we were being exposed. Currently, I have all the required materials waiting for the second transfer to start the construction process. My house will look decent and strong compared to the condition that is in now. My children will not be exposed to the dust. I will have fullied my wish of having a decent house. Whenever I have visitors I will no longer shy off welcoming them to my house. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards and enabled us to fulfill our dreams.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 on purchasing building materials. This includes bricks, cement sand, and wires. I live in a small mud house and I had always wished to renovate it and blaster it well. Currently, I have the materials waiting for the second transfer to start the construction process. I used part of the remaining money to start a grocery business for my wife. She is doing well and doing this passionately. She gets some money to meet the small household's basic needs. I have saved some amount to pay workers when they come. The rest of the money I spent on food and clothes.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Starting a business can be a good investment that we have been thinking of lately.it is very dry, vegetables and fruits are hard to find. People walk long distances to get them .
With 20000 KES for a start, we can open a grocery shop, which can pick well because there is none in the neighbourhood.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For more than 5 months I was with no job. I had no idea how I could take care of my family with no money. Earlier this year I got a job at the quarry though it is very tiresome and draining but I am happy that I can provide for my family needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Getting water has been the greatest challenge in our area, we don't have any dams around and this is making our life terrible. we usually walk far distances looking for expensive tap water and at the same time not reliable, The taps can go dry for weeks, how then do we survive in such situations.
