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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($300 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the entire third transfer to complete the construction of my house, a project initiated with the second transfer when I purchased twelve pieces of iron sheets. With the third transfer, I acquired various building materials, including additional iron sheets, nails, posts, frames, windows, and doors. I am delighted to announce that the house is now finished and I have moved in.
This newfound space fills me with immense comfort and pride. It is not just a house; it is a home where I can welcome guests without any embarrassment. In the past, I resided in a small, deteriorating structure that could hardly accommodate more than one person, let alone a visitor. Thanks to GD, I turned this dream into reality—a dream that once felt unachievable due to my financial struggles, relying on the sale of my goats, which keeps reducing drastically. Thank you, GD, for making this transformation possible.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I deeply appreciate GD for providing unconditional transfers. This support has enabled me to accomplish what once seemed impossible. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to build a better home for myself. Being single, society often undermines and ridicules us, questioning our right to a decent dwelling because we lack a family. GD's transfer has empowered me to defy these stereotypes, and for that, I am truly thankful. This newfound sense of stability and dignity in my living conditions is a testament to the transformative impact of the transfer program.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming years, my plan is to concentrate on my goat herd. I intend to focus on providing them with ample nutrition and healthcare to facilitate faster reproduction. To avoid the need to sell them for my sustenance, I plan to cultivate maize on my small half-acre plot, ensuring a sustainable source of food for my consumption. This strategy will not only secure my family's nourishment but also bolster our financial stability
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($308 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
From my second transfer of $450, I used $170 to purchase pieces of iron sheets and another $100 was used to buy food and other basic household needs for my family. I then used another $80 to buy a cow that I now keep here at home. Since I stay alone here at home after I lost both of my oarents almost 3 years a go, I have had to find means of survival on my own and relying on goats alone has not really helped that much. I am so grateful for the boost that I have received from GiveDirectly thus far. I would not have achieved what I have since achieved over this period of time. The new house that I will build once I get my last transfer shall help me and my family to find the much needed comfort and I will also use the extra house to host visitors incase I have any.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by giving unconditional cash. I have never benefitted from such a program before and I am so grateful for what I have been able to achieve with the cash so far.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the next one year and beyond, I will be building a new house for my family. I am currently living in a small house that does not provide the much needed comfort for me. After I am done with the construction of a new house, I will then concentrate on buying food that will make me more comfortable in my new house. I currently have fifteen goats that I keep and I look forward to adding the more.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($128 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer I received from GiveDirectly couldn't have come at a better time, as I was facing challenges in making ends meet. As I don't have a family yet and my energy levels have decreased with age, it became difficult for me to engage in various casual jobs available. Currently, I rely on taking care of my goats, which serve as my source of income. When I received the transfer, I spent $50 towards purchasing another goat, $26 for clothing, and $6 for solar light to provide lighting. The remaining amount was wisely spent on securing food supplies. I am overjoyed that I could easily fulfill these needs, unlike before when my daily earnings were barely enough to sustain myself. This assistance has significantly impacted my life, and I am immensely grateful for it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life has been the financial support I received, which has greatly eased my ability to purchase food and even acquire a goat. In the past, such luxuries were unattainable due to financial limitations, as I relied solely on occasional casual work and tending to goats. However, with this assistance, I am filled with optimism that the goat will multiply, providing a potential source of income in the future. I will always cherish the gift that has brought about this remarkable change in my life, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunities it has opened up for me.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The memory of receiving my transfer from GiveDirectly is permanently imprinted in my mind. I was at home, enjoying a moment of relaxation, when my helper delivered the incredible news that I had received money from GiveDirectly. In that instant, a surge of happiness overwhelmed me, and I felt an overwhelming sense of excitement about the possibilities that lay ahead. Without wasting any time, I began formulating plans on how to optimize the use of the funds, driven by the desire to seize this opportunity and work towards realizing my dreams. This significant moment of receiving the transfer marked a turning point in my life, fueling my determination to utilize it wisely and create a brighter future for myself.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have lived a life of misery and destitution. In terms of life challenges, I have seen it all. The feeling of non- enoughness can be especially acute and undermining. I have lived each day as it comes, hopeless about where the next meal will come from. I am more worried since I did not take lunch today and I am uncertain where I will get the money to buy dinner. Life is hard enough. I have lived all along as a bachelor since no lady could accept to marry me because I am poverty stricken and cannot be able to provide. It is my wish that I will be better someday and live a good life like other people.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Nothing beats the joy I had when we received yesterday a heavy downpour after a prolonged drought. I used to travel up to 8 km to look for water since I can't afford to buy from the water vendors. The long rainy season is here and I hope life will be better since the food crops will do well and I will get casual jobs like tending other people's farms for a wage that will enable me to put food on the table.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Receiving this transfer will bring a paradigm shift in my life. It is a huge blessing to me and people who are in a similar situation. Truth be told I have never gotten any money above $ 50 in my entire life and so the thought of receiving $1000 from GiveDirectly is one of the most rewarding endeavors on earth where poverty has almost become my second name because I don't afford to meet the most basic of needs. It is against this backdrop that I intend to start by sorting the most basic and immediate needs. I do not have decent clothes, the ones I have are tattered and I sometimes feel embarrassed when I am in the outfit, also I have never worn a shoe for along time for lack of money to buy them, it is against this backdrop that I plan to use $50 for clothing and a pair of shoe. I will use $80 to buy foodstuffs and the rest to purchase goats for rearing since they do well in our area.