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 ($475 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I wanted to build my house if I ever got the chance because about a year my house had collapsed which left me and children with nowhere to sleep and so that was my first goal if I had ever managed to get money and also to pay the tuition debt for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am very happy with the opportunity that I got and the financial assistance because my children and I now have our own home and we do not have to be homeless so I am very thankful to GiveDirectly for the chance that has tremendously changed my life and that of my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first transfers helped in pushing to build the house and so when the second transfers came I bought thirty six iron sheets which went for KES 1,150 each and so I spent KES 41,400 for the roofing and timber worth KES 7,000 because after my house collapsed I slept in the kitchen while my children slept at their grandmothers since we had nowhere else to sleep. I also bought five bags of maize flour that went KES 1,100 which accumulated to KES 5,500 and clothes for my children and I worth KES 7,000 since our clothes were torn and in tatters. Lastly I bought two goats worth KES 6,000 so that I could rear for domestic use.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8:30am, I was outside my house brushing my teeth when I heard my neighbours rejoicing after receiving their transfer. My phone was on charge and off, I had to rush to switch it on to ascertain if I had received the transfer like other. I was overwhelmed with joy after receiving the Mpesa message of the transfer on my phone. I jointly celebrate and thank GiveDirectly for fulfilling to their promises.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living in a decent and specious iron roofed house with the family is the biggest difference in my daily life. This enabled me bring the family members under one roof something that will increase the family bond. In addition, I am no longer worried about the safety of my children at night.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 to construct a spacious two-roomed house for my family. This is because our house collapsed 2 years ago due to heavy rains. I have not been able to built a new one because of lacked enough finances to purchase the building materials. For all those years, I have been living in small temporary house which was not enough to accommodate all the 9 family members.This forced some of the children to seek shelter from my neighbour's house. The had to walk at night after taking our dinner to the neighbour's house which was very risky. I was always worried that something bad could happen to them while they are going to sleep at night. I also spent KES 18,000 to purchase one daily this was to boost my livestock rearing a job that I have been depending for our upkeep. Similarly, its a long term investment for my kids, I will be able to sell them to support their education. In addition, I used the remaining amount to pay for the school fees and bought enough food stock for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means getting a decent house. Currently I am living in a small house which is too small to accommodate me and my family. I have a family of seven children. Three of them are teenagers. This forces them to look for a shelter from neighbors because we cannot spend in the same room. consequently, this has made some of my neighbors to laugh and look down upon me as a failure. I used to live in a two bedroom house but it collapsed last year. Since then I have not been able to construct one due to lack of money. I have been surviving through charcoal burning which earns me $.20 a month that can only enable us afford food.I intend to use the first transfer to construct a three bedroom house that will cost roughly $ 300 so that my children can have shelter under my roof. I will then use the remaining amount to buy livestock as an investment for my children's education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Getting time to connect and eat with my family is a source of joy to me. Leaving very early in the morning to go to burn charcoal the whole day alone makes me feel lonely. However, I have no choice because this is the only thing in can do to put food on the table. It is only in the evening when I come back that I get an opportunity to see my family and have time for my children and my wife. Therefore, my happiest part of the day is in the evening.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Having a family of seven children without a reliable source of income has been difficult to meet the basic needs of my family. This is because, I have a responsibility as the household head to provide for my family and at the same time ensure that my children get access to food, shelter and basic education. However this has not been possible because I earn less than $ 20 a month from my charcoal business.Therefore, unemployment is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.
