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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($512 USD)
access_time 4 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 different than it would have been if I never received the transfer in that, I managed to buy goats and built a house. Having a house is the best gift that I got from GiveDirectly. I enjoy the space and privacy that came with the new house. I have also found a new title and work that I enjoy. I am a farmer specifically rearing goats. Looking back, I am grateful for the way I spend my time nowadays. After doing household chores, I normally spend the better part of the days in the fields with the animals which is worth it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, what I love about this organization is that they uplifted our living stands. Our community has entirely changed. The unconditional cash transfer has enabled us to meet different needs that we are proud of up to date. On the other hand, I do not see anything that went wrong.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the whole of my second transfer on building a decent spacious house. For a long time, I had been wondering where I could have gotten money to achieve this dream. I used to stay in a very small house. There was no privacy. My children were approaching adolescence and wanted to have they own space. Having this house means a lot to me since it has solved a larger percentage of what was cracking my head each day. I will be forever grateful. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the financial support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($535 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the transfer has enabled me to build a new, decent and spacious house to live in. I bought enough building materials which include 30 pieces of iron sheets, poles and paying the mason for his job. For sure, it would have taken me years to save enough money for this purpose of building a new house. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for their financial assistance.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the transfer notification at 10 pm as I was preparing to sleep. When I checked who the sender was, I realized that it was from GiveDirectly notifying me that I had received my first transfer. I could not contain the joy that instantly filled me. I stayed awake for some hours before retiring to bed for the joy in me was inexpressible as my dream of building a decent house had finally come true.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 10000 on the transfer to purchase four goats. These goats to me are a source of wealth. I am expecting them to reproduce and increase in number and have many of them in the near future. At least I now have assets that I can lean on in case of a dire financial need. Apart from the goats, I also purchased 30 pieces of iron sheets and building poles in order to construct a new house to live in. I have been living in a very small house which I had to squeeze for space so that my own items would be accommodated. I am in the process of constructing a decent house which will be ready in a month. I also paid the mason for his job. In addition to this, I paid KES 5000 for my children's school fees for them to be allowed back to school. Lastly, I bought foodstuffs for my family and other household expenses
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In a household like mine where the man has no reliable source of income, basic needs provision is always a big challenge. I am just a house wife and my husband is doing casual labour, a job that earns him only one thousand shillings per week. His earnings are never enough to sustain our family needs and this has forced me to venture into casual jobs like clearing land for neighbors for fee in order to supplement the little income from my husband. Receiving this money means changing my life for the better. I plan to start a shop business in order to have a reliable source of income and the remaining amount will help me to start livestock rearing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend my morning hours collecting water from a far distance something that makes me feel so exhausted when I am back. In the afternoon, I prepare the first meal and share with my children who have come from school by then. Seeing my children enjoying their first meal makes me feel so happy and this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being unskilled, the only business I can venture into is doing casual job whose income can not support my family needs. This has forced me to majorly depend on my husband who is also doing tedious activities in order to earn him one thousand shillings per week. Therefore, lack of reliable source of income is my biggest hardship.
