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 ($493 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?
My life is now different than it would have been if I had never received the transfer in that I was able to construct a decent shelter for my family. Also, I was able to acquire comfortable beddings for my family and paid the school fees for my children something that I did not imagine accomplishing for such a short period.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly liberates us from the poverty status that we had been living for many years by sending us unconstitutional cash transfer. I have able to erect a better shelter for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my first transfer which I had already started the construction of my 2 roomed house for my family. I was looking forward to the second transfer to completing the construction. I needed to obtain 24 iron sheets, timber, nails and pay labour cost. After receiving my second transfer, I acquire the necessary roofing materials. I also purchased modern beddings since I was using the traditional bed and old rags as my beddings on the other hand, my kids were sleeping on the floor. The remaining amount assisted me to pay school fees for my 6 children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message on my phone early in the morning. Since I could not comprehend the message, I called my helper who confirmed that I had received my first transfer. I was overwhelmed with happiness and treated my family with a nice meal as a celebration for the financial help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I was sheltering in a grass thatched hut. When I received my first transfer, I purchased building materials which include iron sheets, poles and nails to construct a new house. My new house is almost complete and soon I will be moving in. Had I not received this transfer, I would still be in my small hut. Thus building a new iron roofed house is the biggest difference in my daily life. It would have taken me years to achieve this.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Its been my desire to build a decent house for family but because of my financial status, I could not meet the cost of construction. Because of this, I was forced to shelter in my old grass thatched house. The money from casual jobs was enough for taking care of foodstuffs and school fees for my children. When I received my first transfer, I committed a bigger portion on buying building materials such as iron sheets, nails and poles to build the new house. I thank GiveDirectly for enabling me to fulfill my greatest wish of building an iron roofed house. I also paid school fees and bought some foodstuffs for my family on the small amount that had remained.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means building a better house for my family. Our current house is so small that it cannot accommodate all of us. This made me built a small chicken pen like structure to shelter my 2 boys. I share the single roomed house with my 3 daughters and whenever my husband comes home, my eldest daughter is forced to sleep in our neighbour's house. Besides this, the house is in a very poor state. Its walls are collapsing and the roof is leaking, making it unbearable during heavy down pour.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up to see my children healthy and happy. Their wellbeing gives me joy because they are the reason I struggle so much to make ends meet.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My life is such a struggle since I do not have a stable source of income. This has resulted to financial instability being my biggest hardship. To cater for my family, I always take loans from my neighbours and once my husband receives his salary, much of it is used to clear the debt and the cycle continues. This has made it difficult to provide quality life and we lack the very basic necessities especially clothing, food and good shelter.
