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 ($490 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 in a way that, I am now living in a good house.I am also having a business that can now help me get income for myself.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
It has helped me because, I receive the money direct without it passing through other people. This is helpful because it is easy to withdraw and plan with it.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my money on buying a Solar, which I am using to light up my house since I was using firewood at night.
I bought iron sheets, which I used to build my house since the house I had was weak and would have fell on me.
I bought motorcycle spare parts to start up a business for myself which can help me get some money.
I also bought goats to rare at home which would help me in future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($514 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. I definitely knew that I will accomplish all my heart desires which including constructing of a new house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life that I can proudly mention is the fact that I now sleep under a semi-permanent house. Before GiveDiecty came into my village I used to live in a small house with a leaking roof. It could not accommodate some of my family members and we had no privacy at all. In addition to that during the rainy season, my children used to seek shelter from relatives, my spouse and I were forced to sleep in one of the corners of our house which was so stressful. That has now become history because I can now access a good shelter whereby it fits all my family members. I am so happy now because I no longer have to worry about the rain.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some beddings such as a bed and mattress. This was to replace the old beddings that I have been using for all those years. Later on, I bought some building materials which include, some iron sheets, building poles, nails, and timber. This was for the purpose of constructing a new house since the previous one was very small. I then spent KES 3500 of the transfer to pay the masson as his labour charge. The remaining amount of money, I am using it buying enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My biggest desire is to acquire tailoring skills. I dropped out of school in class 6 and all the efforts to further my education went futile due to lack of school fees. This subsequently led to early marriage at the age of 19, and 3 years into marriage, Life has not been easy. The house we have been living in, for instance, is in a deplorable condition. Its roof is leaking and every time it rains, we are forced to seek alternative shelter from relatives. Therefore, I intend to build a more spacious and secure house. Additionally, I will enroll in a tailoring course and use the remaining money to purchase a sewing machine to help in actualizing the dream --and that is what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon is the happiest part of my day. This is the moment when I've less work to do after taking my lunch. Normally, in the morning hours, I engage in farm work and other basic chores like cleaning. Evening is when I embark on dinner preparation. And by this time, I'm terribly exhausted.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of reliable employment opportunities has been the biggest hardship in life. As a result, I solely depend on my husband who is a motorcycle mechanic. And because he works on a contractual basis, his income is dismal. Therefore, we often lack basic needs like food, health care, and shelter. This has denied us financial freedom for far too long.
