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 ($493 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?
My life is now different than how it would have been because through the first transfer I managed to purchase high acres of land. Since I am a single parent, I have been willing to have my own farm for years but this was not achievable because I had some other house holds need t cater for. During the planting means, I had to lease other people's expensive land, and sometimes I couldn't afford to. I am now gald with the big piece of land that I own I can even lease a portion to my friends since I will not be able to utilize it all and generate an income. Also, I managed to construct a new house to avoid paying rent in other people's houses. I will save the money I have been using to pay rent and cover other household needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well because they were so loyal and honest in everything they did to us at large. Before receiving the money, I was well advised on how perfect I can use the money according to what I have been longing to purchase. They also considered the elderly recipients the mentally disturbed people by also enrolling them. This showed there was no discrimination at all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying a plot worthy of KES 18000. On top of that, I bought some building materials such as iron sheets, building, timber, threads, and nails. This was for the construction of a new house on the new plot. Previously I used to stay in rental houses which were so expensive and most of the time I could not afford to pay the rent on time. I also paid the mason KES 10000 as his labor charge. With the little that had remained, I bought enough foodstuff for the family
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was taking some rest in the afternoon when I heard my phone ringing. Since I could not comprehend the messages, I called my helper who told me the good news that GiveDirectly had finally sent me the first transfer. I felt happy because this was the moment I was anxiously waiting for. I thanked God for using GiveDirectly to transform my living standard.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the transfer has enabled me to complete the payment of a piece of land which I am planning to dwell and do farming. It would have taken me years to gain ownership had I not received this support. I am glad to own my own land because I cannot depend on the ancestral land which has some conflicts. I can now freely do my own farming projects to create a source of income like poultry.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Settling in my ancestral land has not given me the freedom to do my farming projects which I love most. My desire was to have my own land to empower myself by setting up some projects like poultry. I acquired the land but I was not able to pay in full. When I received my first transfer, I took KES 40000 and cleared the outstanding balance. I am happy to have gained full ownership of this piece of land and free to do my projects. In addition to this, I also spent KES 6000 on buying a bicycle that will help me to carry water for my projects. I spent the remaining amount on buying enough stock of foodstuffs that will take a month.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Owning a piece of land for my family has always been my biggest desire in my life. This is because the place we are currently living does not belong to us. Receive this money means I will final of landowner. I plan to purchase 2 acres at $ 200 each. I will also use $150 to clear school fees for my firstborn child who is pursuing a carpenter course.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a food vendor I spend the morning preparing food for my customers. It is in the afternoon that I get time to meet my customer, I am usually happy serving and interacting with them. Hence, I consider afternoon as my happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Failure to meet my inner desire of owning a piece of land and providing quality education to my children due to financial instability has been my biggest hardship I am facing in my life.I depend on food vending a temporary job. The income I get from this activity is 2 dollars per day which are hardly enough to feed my family of 8 members and to take care of other needs like education. I am constantly afraid that I may fail to provide for my family something that has carried off my joy.