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 ($494 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?
Our family life is much different than before. Initially, we used to suffer a lot from our grass-tatched house due to its leaking roof. Currently, such a problem is a forgotten thing because we improved our house by installing an iron-sheet roof. Hence, our self esteem is much improved and we feel a lot safer and much comfortable staying in the house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by offering the financial support as a grant rather than a loan. As such, we are spared of the worries and struggles of repaying loans. However, GiveDirectly does not do well in selecting households that would benefit from the program because some ladies with children yet staying with their parents are not treated as separate households. That's, everyone with children should be enrolled from my point of view.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used approximately 30,000 shillings of my second transfer on improving our grass-tatched house by installing an iron-sheet roof. We had had suffered for a long period living in a house with a leaking roof. Also, we used 18, 000 shillings of the money on buying a cow since we owned none before. The reminder was used as school fees for one of my children who has just completed Grade 12. The transfer really helped us a lot.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 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 on 17th December 2020 at 1pm when I was in the shamba digging. I heard a message beep and I took my phone to check and it was GiveDirectly transfer. I was very happy and told my husband who was with me right there and he was very happy that we left the shamba to go have lunch and discuss the next steps about the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that my grass thatched house which was leaking has been replaced by an iron roof and I now do not have to worry about rainy days. The cow that I bought also produces surplus milk which I sell to get money for other basic necessities like sugar and soap and I do not lack any basic items. Thank you GiveDirectly and may you be blessed richly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a cow which we are now milking and bought iron sheets to roof my leaking grass-thatched house . I also paid school fees for my child who is secondary school.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My 4 children are all in high school currently and I am paying school fees for all of them. Annually, I am required to pay USD. 250 which is way beyond my ability. I have previously been selling some trees in my small farm to pay but as at now I have sold all of them and I am afraid my children might drop out of school. This would therefore mean a worst future for them. This money will help me clear their school fees and even some part of their college fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is at the middle of the day when I am progressing well with activities in the farm. This is because it is at this time when am able to see the fruits of what I have been struggling to do since when the day started and this gives me hope of a better tomorrow.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It has been during this moment when we have been straining to sustain all our children to continue with their studies. The school fees that I have been paying is too high and even if I have been selling some trees in my farm, I have never been able to clear the fees fully and this has really affected my children's education.
