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 ($422 USD)
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?
I hope that one day I will be able to build a decent home for my family. Secondly, I would like to buy a dairy cow so that I can pay my children's school fees. I don't have the money right now, but I am trusting him to find a solution.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The organization's assistance improved our living situation. We were informed about the program's purpose and allowed to spend our money in any way that we choose. The organization's assistance, in my opinion, has been essential in elevating the living standards of people in my community. Because of unconditional support, people were able to spend money on their necessities. So far, I have not yet come across any inefficiencies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
GiveDirectly's assistance went a long way toward improving our standard of living. It arrived just in time because I needed to pay my children's school fees. My husband and I are farmers. Additionally, I am a pastor at our local church. We have ten children, three of whom are adults. As a result, I spent $300 on school fees for my high school-aged children. I then spent $100 on two sacks of maize. Due to financial constraints, this was previously not possible since we depended on farming which was not productive due to weather changes. I am overjoyed and grateful that GiveDirectly's assistance has significantly improved my life.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 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 9 am when my kids came running informing me that my neighbors had received their transfers. On checking my phone too, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy with the lump sum amount of money and asked God to bless GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is peace of mind because I have paid school fees for my kids. This made my kids concentrate on their studies and now I expect good grades from my daughter who just completed high school.
Secondly, I am grateful because through the transfers I have built a modern Iron roofed kitchen which is now more comfortable compared to the old one with leaking grass-thatched roofs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a mother of six, I have been doing onion and tomato vending for the past 30 years just to feed my family. This is because my husband has been a drunkard ever since I married him. I was therefore charged with the responsibility of solely fending for my kids. To pay fees I have saved part of my onion and tomato income in village saving groups.
Fortunately, when I received my transfers I sensed relief from burdens being lifted from my shoulders. I, therefore, spent KES 30,000 on the construction of a 15 Iron roofed Kitchen. This is because my previous kitchen was old, worn out with leaking grass-thatched roofs, and was built 22 years ago.
Secondly, I spent KES 10,000 on the purchase of school stationery for my son who just joined high school. I also spent KES 5000 on clearance of school fees for my daughter who just cleared high school.
Lastly, I spent KES 4,300 on a bag of maize. This will further sustain us for the next two weeks. I also spent KES 2,500 other a sofa seat which has made my house more comfortable.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I started building my two-roomed house two years but I am yet to complete it. It has always been my wish to have a bigger house to accommodate my visitors. I plan to complete it, then furnish it with furniture and household items. This will cost me approximately KES 25000. I also plan to demolish the current kitchen I have and build a new one. The existing one is old and it leaks making it uncomfortable for my children who sleep there.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Six months ago, I lost three close family members. It affected me so much I nearly went into depression. But in the last two months, I have enjoyed the support of my church members and neighbors. They have really come in handy, visiting me, buying me food and giving me emotional support.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The main challenge is a lack of finances. I have three children in school and two who have completed school. Paying school fees has been the greatest challenge. I used to own cows but unsold them off to pay school fees, today I only own one. We have only an acre of a farm which most of it we have used to farm maize for domestic consumption. We therefore jave to go out and look for alternative sources of income to earn a living and meet other expenses including paying school fee.
