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 ($424 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 created a goal that I want to achieve once I have some money after using the second transfer as planned. I would like to get a solar panel that can adequately light my home as I currently only have a little lamp. This will make it easier for my grandchildren to study at night without having to struggle with inadequate lighting.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I believe that other organizations that wish to make a difference in the community should take a cue from GiveDirectly. In addition to the excellent deeds my community members accomplished through GiveDirecly, it allowed me to build a nice home, something I would not have been able to achieve anytime soon owing to poverty. I am very appreciative of the organization since it has helped me have a safe home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I decided to finish my house when I got the second and final transfer, as we had been informed. Since I trusted my son to oversee the construction, I am unable to determine how much money I spent on finishing the house. I'm glad to see that he performed as I had anticipated. I then invested $134 to begin raising livestock.
To begin with, I purchased four goats because, in contrast to cows, they can withstand difficult climatic conditions. I used some of the remaining money to cover my grandchildren's school expenses and the rest to maintain the household.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at my home preparing to depart to the nearby market centre to look for casual labor to obtain food for my family. I was in the bathroom washing when I heard my phone ringing. I was with my daughter-in-law whom verified my phone and informed me that I had received my transfer. I was so happy for the aid since it will help me obtain food for the family since I had no money and had spent the previous night without food.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living in a decent and spacious house with my family is the biggest difference in my daily life. I would have not achieved this development in a very short time without the aid from GiveDirectly since I did not have a reliable income-generating activity. I am so grateful for the transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My child had completed form four and I had failed to get her certificate due to the huge fee arrears she owes the school. This had eaten away the joy of my life since she was not able to secure a job without the certificates. I spent KES 6,200 to settle the fee arrears for my daughter. In addition, I used KES 25,000 to construct a decent and specious shelter for my family. The one I had earlier was very small and it servers as our kitchen at the same time. Furthermore, I bought a variety of small households utensils with the remaining amount.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means taking my son back to school. I have a family of five children. My last born son finished high school but never joined college because his certificate was withheld due to a huge debt of 60000 KES. Raising this money has been just a dream that has never come to pass. I depend on charcoal burning business which earns me less than 1000 KES a week. This money is not enough to buy food and save to clear the debt in school. I intend to use the cash transfer to clear the debt in school. I will then use the remaining amount to take him to a technical college.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is usually the happiest part of my day. This is because, my husband leaves early in the morning around 6am for charcoal burning in the forest. He spend the whole day in the bush looking for logs for burning. He then comes home very late at 6pm with something for us to eat. When he comes back, we cook together, eat and rest. During this time, we story tell which makes me smile and forget the challenges for a minute.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life is poor health. For a long time close to ten years, I have been suffering from a chronic disease that has never been diagnosed. I just display asmatic signs and ulcers. I also suffer from breathing complications. I have gone for check up and a lot of X-rays but nothing has been discovered.This has robbed me all the savings that my husband and I had. The main economic activity that we rely on is charcoal burning which is not reliable and earns us less than 1000 KES a week. All the money is used to buy food and some for medicine just to treat the symptoms. This has affected the education of my last born son who finished secondary school but due to the huge debt, his certificates were withheld.
I intend to use the cash transfer to clear the debt of 60000KES for my son. I will then use the remaining amount to seek for medication.
