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
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The transfer has enabled me to renovate my house making it to be more permanent. I rebuilt the mud walls with bricks and its now permanent than it used to be. It was my desire to live in a brick house, which GiveDirectly has fulfilled to me. I also paid for my children's school fees since it was also a challenge to me because I don't have any stable source of income. Apart from these, I also replaced my old bedding with new bed and a mattress with which I am sleeping on comfortably unlike before when I was using old and worn out bedding.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done well in uplifting our living standards by giving us the transfer and making it possible for us to fulfill the important basic needs that was a challenge to us. In my opinion, I don't think there is anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on paying school fees for my children. I also took a portion of the money for ploughing my farm during the planting season. My husband had also been ill for months thus this money also helped me to pay for his medical bills at KES 17000.I saved KES 10000 to enable me start a small business that will be giving me an income.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($528 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning a permanent house is the biggest achievement of my life. This has given me so much peace and joy in my daily life. The fact that we now live in a decent, spacious and comfortable house makes me worry less about my family in terms of their security and well being. I was able to do all these using the transfer I received from Give Directly. I am glad that my children can now study well because they even have a room where they can study and do their homework without any distraction. Currently, we are so happy as a family. We could not achieve all these if I couldn't have gotten financial support from Give Directly.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I clearly remember that day as if it was yesterday. It was around 10 pm when we were from taking supper with my family when I heard the notification message on my mobile phone. When I checked its content I found out it was an Mpesa message from Give Directly. They had sent me the exact amount they had promised us to my account. I was so happy. I even stopped eating and started shouting and celebrating with joy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer on buying a few building materials. I bought sand at KES 700, bricks at KES 9000 with an intention to renovate my semi-permanent house. I also paid school fees for my two children so that they can without any distraction. I then took KES 7000 for boosting my business of selling clothes. I saved the remaining KES 20000 in my bank account. I know it will save me when an emergency arises.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My greatest desire is to expand my clothing business. Currently, I deal with babies' clothes and that of ladies and the challenge I have is lack of a secured place to operate in. In most cases, I conduct the business at the verandah or at the open when it is dry. This is attributed to the fact that the little income I earn from it is not sustainable. It is my wish that once I receive the transfers, I will rent a space; this will enable me to operate efficiently hence maximizing on income generation. As a result, I will no longer endure the scorching sun and the inconveniences of moving my precious commodities around every day. Ultimately, I will be able to provide sufficiently for the family's needs like food, healthcare, and education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. Being a business lady, balancing between household chores and work is always tough given that my husband works miles away and children attend school. This means that my day is always packed with activities here and there and it is in the evening when I get a chance to rest. Again, at this time my kids are back from school and they help me with evening work. Having them around gives me peace.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Back then, my husband and I had invested heavily in livestock raising, little did we know that all would be swept away by famine that befell us in the year 2016. This to us was the biggest hardship we have ever faced. It resulted in financial instability that forced my husband to leave home in search of casual jobs in Mombasa. Since then, we haven't been able to prepare our land in time for planting, and subsequently leading to low maize yield because people here depend on oxen, something that we are unable to hire. Am glad we will be able to bring back the lost glory through this cash transfers. We will purchase oxen to assist us in farming.
