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
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since I have completed the payment for the piece of land that I was purchasing, I hope to begin sourcing construction materials to begin constructing a new home for my family of ten on the parcel of land. I have two working sons and a married daughter, all of whom have promised to assist me in purchasing construction materials. I am hoping that by the end of the year, we will have relocated to our new home.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly lifted me out of the hard life I was living on a small piece of family land with my children. I am glad that GiveDirectly assured us of free cash transfers and the freedom to spend our money as we saw fit after we enrolled. Purchasing a plot of land had long been a dream of mine, and I am delighted that it has finally come true. I had also spent a portion of the transfer on livestock, which I believe will be useful in bolstering other future projects. I hope that GiveDirectly will continue to do good in other villages that have yet to be visited.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I first received the transfer, I used a portion of it to purchase land from a neighbor who was selling a parcel adjacent to mine. I paid the pending $400 because I had not cleared the total cost, and I am now the rightful owner of the parcel of land. I was living on my parents' tiny parcel of land, that I could not build anything on it. At the moment, I can plan to relocate my houses and build better structures on the new plot, as well as practice farming on it to produce more food and pay school fees for my six children using farm produce. I also spent $90 on two sheep that I intend to raise and sell their offspring. In addition, I spent the remaining funds on food for my family of ten, which we consumed over the course of a month. I am grateful for the generous support that has improved the standard of living for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was just relaxing at home after a busy day when I heard a message notification from my phone. When I checked it out I could not believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I immediately inform my family members and everyone was so grateful and happy. It was one of the happiest days in our lives. We started planning on how to spend the money. I knew I would be in a position to pay the debt that I had. I stayed for two days and later went to withdraw the money. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
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 have paid the debt that was giving me restless nights. I ran a business of groceries and I used to save some money of money. I bought a piece of land and I had a balance of 30,000 that I has not paid. This was the biggest challenge that I was facing. When I received the transfer I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to pay the balance. Currently I have peace of mind to do other activities without being disturbed. I have owned the land fully and I am planning on doing horticulture farming. I will be in a position to get enough food for the family and even sell the surplus to earn an income. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled me to own a piece of land. This would have taken me quite some time to get the full ownership.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 on paying the debt. I had always wished to pay this but I did not have the money. I bought a piece of land with my saving and I had not cleared the balance. This was the best investment since we lived in a small piece of land. Currently I have a peace of mind since I have paid all the debt and I have owned the land fully. I spent KES 8,000 on purchasing two goats. This is an investment since goats reproduce twice per year and I can sell them to pay school fees for my children. I spent KES 1,400 on paying school fees for my children in primary school. The remaining amount of money I spent on food and clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a single mother of 9 children and I have been ravaged by poverty. We live in a half a point of an acre that we share with my sister who is also unmarried with 6 children. Poverty is a bad thing, I have nothing to smile about at all, we eat poor meals when we are lucky to have them. My children are poorly dressed, they wear rags and we live in a dilapidated house. We are faced with a myriad of challenges, we are very miserable. This vicious cycle of poverty has weighed us down and it has proved difficult to come out of it because of a lack of funds. I had lost hope in life completely but now that this help from Give Directly is here I am so overjoyed, that I lack words to express my joy. First things first, when I receive this money I will buy 0.1 acres of land at KES 50000. I will use the rest of the money to build a house and buy a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Most of my days are always dull with no hope of the next day. I do not remember the last time I have been happy but last week when I heard about the transfers from Give Directly I was extremely happy. I thank God a lot that at last I have something to live up for. That I will be able to buy land and have my own garden where I can plant vegetables. I am so elated, my future seemingly is changing for the better.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I face a myriad of challenges but on top of all is the poverty state I am in. I have lived in poverty for sometime now. The land we live on is just enough for the house, so bad is the situation that there is hardly any space to even put up a latrine. It suffices to say that we cannot engage in any farming nor keep any livestock, we are food poor as a result. My younger children were on the verge of malnutrition had it not been for my neighbors who came to my aid.I am ever bothered, disturbed and worried. Even as I speak to you now I have no idea what we are going to eat for lunch.
