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 ($465 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?
As of now, I have not set any goal to accomplish because of the struggle that I am passing through to ensure that my family gets some food since it is a dry season. But, as we gear into the rainy season I will set some goals after I am done with the planning issues. I aim to ensure that the goals which I will set are accomplished that is why I only plan if I am settled and my mind is not engaged with other things.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a great humanitarian activity in uplifting the living standard of our people in the community. It enabled people to construct houses, get access to food which was a rare thing to most families due to the drought as well as enabling us to buy livestock. If it were not for GiveDirectly I cannot picture out how our people could survive.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, the first thing I did before returning home was to buy a bed and a mattress. They both cost KES 10000.00. I did this because the bed I was using was the traditional one and very old, the mat was also tone and had several holes. I also built a house for my son who had grown to sleep in our house. Besides that, I took some amount which I cannot clearly state how much to pay school fees for my two children. Thereafter, I used the remaining amount to buy food for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was relaxing after completing preparing my kids to school. I heard my relative rejoicing and proclaim that they had received their transfer. I was with my daughter-in-law in the house who checked on my phone. I could not believe my ear when she informed me that I had received my transfer. I felt very happy for receiving my transfer that would transform my life for the better.
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 am currently owning livestock like others in the village. This is a reliable source of income for my family which will help me in educating my kids. Additionally, I will be able to reside in a decent shelter something that will restore my lost happiness.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to purchase building materials including 60 building poles, timber, 20 iron sheets, and set aside KES 9,000 for labour cost. This was for the construction of a new decent and more spacious house for my family. The one I had earlier had collapsed and I was forced to stay in my son's house since I did not have money to build new one. I also purchased 6 goats for KES 17,000 this is a future investment to assist me in educating my kids once they complete secondary education. I will sell some to advanced their studies. The remaining amount assisted me in acquiring enough food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow with a family of four children. Two of the children are currently in school. One is in class four and the other one is in class two. Raising these children has been a challenge since I have no source of a stable income. I depend on charcoal burning business which earns me less than $ 6 a week. What is even more worrying is that due to the high number of people doing this business, there are no trees as all of them have been cut down. This has made life more difficult for me and my children. I intend to use the first cash transfer from GiveDireclty to build a two bedroom house since the one I live in is in bad condition and is very small to accommodate me and my children. This will cost around $250. I will then use the remaining amount of money to clear school fees for my children. I will also use the second cash transfer to buy ten goats that will be a store of wealth for my children. This will cost me around $450.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. This is because at this time, I get an opportunity to relax my mind from the day's struggles. It usually during this time that I cook food and eat with my children. Having that time to see my children eat, brings joy to my heart as it strengthens me to work hard to see them smile.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a stable income is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. I am a widow who relies heavily on charcoal burning business to meet my basic needs. This business earns me less than $2 a day, which makes it difficult to get even food on a daily basis. My husband died way back which made me to take his full responsibility of providing for the family he left behind. With the high rates of unemployment in my village, getting a job to make both ends meet has really been difficult. This has contributed to my family living a miserable life.
