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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly is doing very well by giving us this funds because they have really raised our living standard.However I would have preferred if they can be able to fund a project for instance I really want to complete my home it would be better if they funded the whole project and left me with a complete home to move into.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have always wanted to have my own house .Before I had bought some ironsheets and kept hoping I will get more funds to start over the house construction project .when I received my first transfer I bought building trees to start off by putting the structure .It cost me about KES 1000 as I used the KES 200 for food.The second transfer came and had to pay KES 1000 as school fees for my children, used KES 500 for food and paid the building contractor KES 1000 and bought some stones for KES 500.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was continuing with my daily routine of burning and selling charcoal to provide for my family when I received the transfer message. I couldn't hide my joy as I called the GiveDirectly's hotline number to thank them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Previously, I was not a happy person and I hated evenings because they used to remind me that I am homeless and another night full of thoughts was about to fall. Nowadays, my days are filled with joy and I can finally feel like a responsible parent who got her kids somewhere to sleep comfortably when the darkness falls. I no longer have sleepless nights like I was used to and I have a lot of peace in my heart.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest time, I was staying in my sister in-laws house with my three children after my weak muddy house collapsed leaving us with nowhere to stay. Life wasn't easy for my family and all that I wanted was to build a semi permanent house where I can comfortably stay with my family. My husband and I had planned to start saving towards buying building materials with my husband who works as a casual labourer in the city. We didn't know how long it will take us to buy enough materials but joy came when I was enrolled in the program because I knew the whole process will be easier since I can take a loan and put the monthly transfers as a security. By the time I received my first monthly transfer, we had bought iron sheets enough to roof on room so, I used all the transfers to buy some poles and pay masons who were build me the semi permanent room. what a joy to have somewhere I can call home! I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the support.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house was brought down by a whirlwind. This forced me to relocate to a rental house in a nearby market center for a while with hopes of rebuilding the house. My husband who by then had no stable source of income entered into an agreement with his younger brother to allow us to occupy one of his vacant houses in the homestead. The deal which seemed so sweet turned out to be bitter when the brother-in-law started developing a very negative attitude towards us to an extent of abusing and beating me in the absence of my husband. I'm a very frustrated woman today that if I can get an assurance that GiveDirectly can offer me the monthly transfers, the most immediate action that I will take is to acquire a loan from SACCOs to use it to construct the house then service the loan using the monthly transfers.Other than that, I plan to purchase a plot of land. I'm currently temporarily owning a small piece from the ancestral land which I doubt if I would continue owning with the ongoing conflict between my family and the larger family. It seems to me like the family plans to kick me and my 2 kids out of their homestead and so wise to have a plan B just in case that happens.
What is the happiest part of your day?
If I say that I have any happiness in my life I would be lying. With all the suffering from the brother-in-law, sadness and frustration have really taken a toll on me! I will only be happy the day I will rebuild my house and relocate from this current one that has totally denied me peace!
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is the suffering I'm currently going through in my matrimonial home. It really traumatizes me that I left my paternal home at a very tender age hoping to settle peacefully in marriage and raise my kids the best way I could only to meet this abusive and violent brother-in-law who puts my life at risk. I fear for the lives of my 2 kids as the future isn't promising at all in this homestead.
