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 ($468 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My major goal was for me to construct an extra room for my children, especially for the boys, which I am glad and fulfilled that I was able to realize the goal, at the moment I don't have any other new goal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is issuing out unconditional cash which has transformed the lives of numerous individuals in our society, I am grateful to be among the beneficiaries, they do their work diligently with respect and I have not seen any gap.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I are blessed with six children, the house that we were living in was small, It was small to accommodate all of us, at the same time the boys are all grown therefore, they too needed their privacy, thus I used KES 10,000 in the construction then used KES 10,000 in paying school fees, Lastly, I used KES 5000 in buying foodstuffs, I am happy that my children have a decent shelter over their heads, I was incapable of constructing one before due to financial constraints.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5 am when I was still in my bed sleeping. I was with my children in the house when I heard the loud message alert on my phone. After waking up, I checked my phone and realized that I had received my transfer. I was soo happy and relieved at the same time for receiving my transfer which was to transform our life for the better. I had called my husband who was in town to inform him about the good news. He was very excited and we started planning on how to spend our transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Constructing a separate house for my boys is the biggest difference in my life. Currently, they are staying in their house something has restored my privacy and dignity in my life. I thank God for the opportunity, I would have not achieved this milestone without my transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My desire has been to construct a decent shelter for my 2 grown-up boys. This is because we were still living in the same room despite them being big boys. I had lost my secrecy with my husband, in addition, it was against our customs. I bought 36 iron sheets for KES 900 each, 40 building poles for the construction of a one-roomed house for them. Furthermore, I used KES 7500 to purchase 3 tons of building stones, I planned to construct a rental shop at the nearby market center. Lastly, I used KES 4000 to clear the fee arrears for my two boys who are still in primary school.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means continued education for my children. I plan to achieve this though livestock farming. I will spend KES 30,000 to buy ten indigenous goats because they do we in our area due to prolonged dry spell. As they multiply, I will sell at a profit and use the proceeds for school fees, uniform and stationary. The rest of the transfer will go to purchasing three beds and mattresses, food and water as well as treatment for my livestock.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month on 23rd, I received a relief food from a well wisher who is an aspirant in the coming elections. I got twenty kilograms of maize and ten kilograms of beans which will last me for two weeks.
This will enable me to use my income on other basic needs such as school fees and buying water which has become very expensive. This has brought me joy and happiness because it is a sign of relief on household expenditure.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am currently facing is food insecurity mainly because of prolonged drought. It has been three years since we received ample rain in our area. This has been a stumbling block to achieving the education of my children. I depend on charcoal production and the earnings which is about KES 2000 per month go to buying food and water only. In a day I need KES 250 for food and water. I use three jerican of water, two for my live stock and one for domestic use that cost KES 150 while KES 100 is spent on food for a family of four.
