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 ($531 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I decided to purchase household furniture and other electronics that I was in dire need of. These included: a TV, a six by six bed, a mattress, and a comfortable sofa seat. My house now looks more presentable than it was before. This makes me a proud father and husband.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has really improved the lives of the community members. Many children in my community are now going to school as compared to before. Families have become more self-sufficient and many small scale businesses have started. This has improved the economic activities of our community. I could say it is a sign of improved living standards. Saying that GD does not do well is being unrealistic because the impact is evident.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference is that I currently have all those things that I had wished to have before but consistently lacked resources to buy them. I sleep in a king size bed, my children can enjoy watching their favorite TV programs in the comfort of their home and my visitors can now sit comfortably on the comfy sofas thanks to GD. This is a drastic improvement from the small bed I had with a worn out mattress, old seats with no cushions, and did not even own a TV my children were always found in my neighbors home.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($544 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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What did you spend your first transfer on?
My daughter managed to pass her class eight national examination and qualified to join high school. I spent most of the money to pay her school fee and admission fee as she was joining form one. I did not have the money to take my daughter to school to the extent that I had started organising for a fundraiser but thanks to GD I got sorted out. The remaining amount I bought food, shoes, and clothes for myself. Initially, I had old and patched clothes which were not presentable and whenever I put them on I could get negative feedback from my colleagues at work but since I bought new ones my dressing is the new talk in the village.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfers I was relieved because I no longer had to organize for a fundraiser or sell my ancestral land to take my daughter to school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference is that my daughter has been admitted to school with zero debt at hand. Thanks to GD, I did not sell the only land I had neither organise for a fundraiser to take her to school. I also dress properly as compared to the patched clothes I had before receiving the transfers. My life has changed to the extent that I have become a talk in the village of how God works miracles in the lives of widows.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is difficulty in paying school fees for my children. I am a casual labourer and I do not have a reliable source of income, hence paying their school fees is an issue I always have to struggle with.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening after a long day's work. I feel happy in the evening whenever I am free from hard labour in the farms involving weeding and cutting sugarcane. Whenever, I reflect of the days activities, I delight in the faithfulness the Lord who often protect me against being attacked by the snakes and other reptiles in the farms.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a financial breakthrough in my life. I will spend this money on cultivating sugarcane in large scale. Once my sugarcane matures, I will be able to raise more cash which I will use to educate my daughter. I desire her to attain the highest level of education that will help her to secure a good job.