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 ($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 different than it would have been if had never received the transfer in that I now live a comfortable life, I was able to purchase proper beddings for the family .Back in the days I use to sleep in the same bed with my 3 children but now they have a separate bed and mattress. Also, I was able to construct a separate kitchen since I use to cook in same house. The smoke from the firewood was destroying our clothing. In addition, I was able to acquire a piece of land which I am planning to construct a rental house that will earn me a living.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well for sending the transfer which helped to fulfill the desires of my heart. In my opinion, I did not see anything that it does not do well. I wish it will continue to assisting other less fortunate households in the society.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to purchase a piece of land for $600. This is because I had desired to own a land but I could not due to lack of adequate finances. My husband is a part time teacher at a private school his income is not enough to cater for the needs of there family as well as save for development projects. My plan is to construct a rental house in the future which will earn us an income through rent collection.
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 can still recall it was aroun seven in the morning when I was heading to the farm. I heard a loud vibration from my mobile phone, I decided to check the content of the notification. Only to realize it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy and enthusiasm knowing my life will change completely.
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 managed to renovate my house which was in critical condition. Its walls were weak and almost collapsing. Also, some of my properties were always stolen by some unknown people because of the condition of the house. There were holes all over and also this made my children always suffer from pneumonia because of the cold nights. However, the coming of GD in my life has transformed everything. I am now sleeping under a nice iron-roofed house which is well plastered and I no longer worry about the thieves nor the cold nights.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying building materials which include, several building poles, and threads. This was for the renovation of my house which had some weak walls which were almost collapsing. Also, I bought some new clothes for my children's Xmas celebrations. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Expanding my farming to have more harvests has been my greatest desire that I have long wished but this has not materialized due to financial constraints. During land preparation, I am forced to hire oxen which cost me $20 and considering this time which is hard to find money, I am even worried this season could be so terrible. To solve this menace, I plan to buy oxen that I can solely own at a cost of $300. This will assure of early land preparation and eventually more harvests for my family. I also plan to buy a sewing machine that will cost me $120 in order to have an extra reliable source of income. In addition, I will construct a small store for my farm produce which at the moment I use my main house as a kitchen as well as a store, something that does not give me peace of mind because my house looks conjested.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day looks busy considering that this is a land preparation season and most of my morning and afternoon hours are majorly spent at the farm. It is only in the evening when I find myself relaxed and share meals with my family. The more I rest makes me get re-energized and this gives me the strength for the next day's work. Thus, evening is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. Despite being young and energetic plus the fact I have a certificate in dressmaking, I have never managed to own a sewing machine something that has forced me to depend on my husband who is also a seasoned teacher because he has not managed to complete his four years course due to the financial crisis we face. This has robbed our joy as a family and I am always feeling life has been unfair to me.
