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 ($498 USD)
access_time over 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 different than it would have been if I never received the transfers in that, I have bought building materials ready to complete the construction that I have started. I do casual jobs in the village and sometimes do tailoring work. The amount of money that I get from this jobs is so small and cannot meet all the basic household items and pay school fees for my children. I could not save even a coin. I used to admire good houses and it was my wish to build one. We live in a small house with my family and the house cannot accommodate us comfortably. When I receive the second transfer I bought the building material and started building a better and spacious house for my family. I am so happy in that I know that we will have a spacious rooms and my children will feel good. GiveDirectly has changed our thinking, given us hope and finally have improved our standard of living. I am so much grateful and very indebted to you.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and bought dairy cows.I do not fine anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend the money I received from GiveDirectly to buy building materials ready to complete the construction that I had started the remaining amount of money I used it to buy other basic needs for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 1pm while in the farm when I heard ululations from neighbors that GD transfers had been sent. At the instance, my phone was charging in the neighborhood and Immediately I went to pickup my phone. After switching on my phone, that's when I saw the SMS notification from GiveDirectly. I was very excited and relayed the good news to my wife who was equally excited.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building a semi permanent house which I had desired to have for the past two years but couldn't. I am grateful because I can sit and sleep comfortably in my new house unlike before when I used to be conscious of leaking roofs especially during rainy seasons. I am also happy because through the transfers I have been able to revive my school sweater knitting business.It was greatly affected during Covid19 outbreak bearing in mind my customers are majorly school kids but now it has picked up because schools are now opened.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 of my transfer on building a two roomed semi permanent house. This is because the one I had was old with leaking Iron roofs and was built 18 years ago. I also spent KES 5600 on sofa set cushions because the initial cushions were worn out. I also spent KES 5000 on the latest clothing fashion because I used to only afford only second hand clothes. I spent KES 2000 on food and household items. I also spent KES 1500 on buying and planting of maize seeds. I also spent KES 3000 on boosting my school sweaters knitting business because it was greatly affected by Corona.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money mean a comfortable life with my family. I have been aspiring to build a new house since the one we are living in, is in deplorable state. The house is old and when it rains, it leaks giving us sleepless night and it becomes hard for my children to study. Our intention therefore, is to use Ksh 40,000 to build a better one and help improve the living standard of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend the better part of my morning and midmorning hours working in our 0.3 acre of land where we have grown maize and engaging in my routine household chores respectively. I spend the whole afternoon until late in the evening working in the nearby town as a tailor earning an average income of approximately Ksh 200 a day. Having my hard earned money in evening to fend my family, makes evening the happiest part of day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been having constant pain on my right breast for the last 8 years making it the biggest hardship I have faced in life. I have visited several hospitals for diagnosis but they have found nothing wrong with it. We have sold all our sheep and a cow at my disposal leaving us with nothing to fend for my family. Our future plan is to use our second transfer from Give Directly to seek further medication in a better hospital which can give us reliable results and thus having an ultimate solution for my illness.
