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 ($517 USD)
access_time 4 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 had I not received the transfer because I have been able to build a spacious house for my family. I would not have been able to do this on my own since it had taken me years since I demolished my previous house and I had not even managed to build a kitchen.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well by enrolling everyone in our village and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my recent transfer, I built a house for my family. I settled on this since I had already demolished my house as it was old and in a pathetic condition and I was living at my sons house. Also, I bought some daily basic needs and clothes for my family. I still have some amount that I am using to meet our daily needs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($535 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought building materials ready to built a better and spacious for my family. I used to live in a small mud house before which was almost leaking from inside. I depend on small scale farming and the returns that I get from this is so small and only for the basic needs of the family. During the rainy seasons, it was a big challenge for me and my grandchildren. I had no savings nor a source of income to buy the materials for building a better house. When I received the transfer I felt so happy because this was the only opportunity for me to build a better house. I have bought all the materials in place. I have confidence that in the next month the construction process will be finished and I will move into the new house. I will no longer have worries about where my grandchildren would stay. I will be hosting visitors and family members without shying off. I am so much grateful for the support because it has changed my living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I remember it was very early at around 3 AM in the morning when I heard a notification message from my phone. I reached out to my granddaughter to check out the message. She told me that GiveDirectly has sent a sum of 55000KES. I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to build a better and spacious house because I was living in a small house.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy building materials ready to build a better and spacious house for my family and the rest of the money I used it to buy food for the family and pay workers who cultivated my farm.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My current age cannot allow me to indulge in heavy duties. All I want is to eat well and live in a comfortably warm house house. Receiving this money would enable me to buy a dairy cow which will provide me with milk for consumption and sale of surplus to buy more food. Thus with GiveDirectly's cash transfer my desire to live a life of dignity will come true.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two days ago I contracted malaria which has taken a toll on my immunity. I cannot be able to transact my daily activities of cultivating my farm. Fortunately, my grandchildren have closed school for a month's break. Having them around me especially in this moment of illness make me happy. During the afternoon when they're back from looking after cattle, they would heartily entertain me to songs and laughter, which makes me so happy and uplift my moods
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
One of my daughters is cognitively impaired, unmarried and stays with me together with her four children. In many occasions I have had to shoulder the incessant demands that came the day I summoned the resolve to make them my responsibility. I have to worry about so many things including her children's education, food and clothing -not to mention their mother's. All this is too much pressure to bear especially now that I am growing old. Their future is uncertain as I do not know if my sons would take over and meet their needs in an event I become incapacitated. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life.
