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 ($491 USD)
access_time almost 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 different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have build a spacious and a better kitchen house. I do depend on small scale farming and the harvest that we get is only for consumption. I had no other source of income. I had always wished to build a better kitchen. When I received the second transfer I decided to complete the construction that I had started using the previous transfer. My kitchen was so small and I had no extra space to storing my stuff. Currently I have a spacious house where I can score my things without any disturbance. The space ease the movement and make work easier. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard. Currently I have a decent house, which has always been my dream.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent all the second transfer to complete the kitchen house that I started using the previous transfer. I used to have a small kitchen, I had no store and enough space for cooking. I am so happy I was able to build a spacious and a better house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 2pm just after lunch while relaxing outside my house under a shed when I heard my phone ring. On checking it, I confirmed to have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly transfers. I was very happy and relayed good news to my kids who were very happy too.I withdrew the money two weeks later after planning with my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is purchase of building materials which will aid in completion of my house. The outside part of my house was incomplete because of school fees burdens. I had never dreamt of my house being completed anytime soon but GiveDirectly has made it on time and my family are very grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40,000 of my transfer on purchase of building materials for completion of my house.This is because the house had stalled for over fifteen years because of school fees burdens. KES 5000 was spent on purchase of clothing for my kids during the Christmas season. I have saved the rest for payment of construction labourers.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It means I have to complete the construction of our house, we started building the house in 2016 with the small capital we had but it was no enough. Because of other responsibilities that needed to be priority we stopped thue we have moved into the incomplete home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning, because I have just woke up and expecting to have a successful day in all my activities. But if it does not work out successful my moral goes down.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is when I was diagnosed with hypertension in 2002, It was devastating to see myself not been able to support my family at the time my first born child was joining secondary school.
