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
55000 KES ($510 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?
For a very long time, I have wished to acquire a specious semi-permanent house for my family. I was not able to own one because I was struggling in poverty. With the assistance from Givedirectly, I was able to built decent house for myself. At the moment, l am a happy man after accomplishing my desire.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did so well by assisting the poor households through sending cash transfer which uplifted my our living standard. I thank Givedirectly for continuing to assist the poor household in our area.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had begun the construction of a semi-permanent house using bricks by purchasing cement and sand. I was not able to complete the construction with my first transfer. After receiving my second I spent it to purchase roofing material including timber, 45 iron sheets, nails and pay labor charges. This is because the one I had was very small and did not fully accommodate my family and commodities. The remaining amount assisted me in educating my child who is in form 4 by paying his school fees.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember I had sat down with my wife to think on how I would finish constructing our new house the night before the transfers came. Early in the morning, I was greatly relieved when I woke up to the news that GiveDirectly had sent the money as promised. I felt happy as I withdrew the transfer and bought the remaining building materials.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was in the process of building a new permanent house. I did not have enough money to finish the construction of the new house. Through the transfer, I bought the additional building materials which include additional 20 pieces of iron sheets and timber for roofing, and cement and sand for plastering it. I also paid for the labour cost involved in the construction of my new house. Its almost complete now, I am currently finishing the floor. Having a permanent house has been my dream and I am grateful to GiveDirectly for helping me fulfill it. Finishing my house is the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had began to build a new permanent house but I could not finish it because the materials got depleted in the process. I was not financially stable to buy the remaining materials. However, GiveDirectly came to my rescue because when I received my first transfer, I purchased the remaining materials. I purchased additional 20 pieces of iron sheets, nails and timber for roofing. I also bought bags of cement and sand to plaster the house. I spent the remaining amount to pay for the labour cost involved.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a new house for my family because I have been yearning to own one but due to the financial crisis, I am unable to complete my house which is at superstructure level. My plan once I receive the cash grant from GiveDirectly is to spend my first transfer on roofing my house in order to shift my belongings before rains start. On the other hand, I plan to buy 1 dairy cow at $300 which will act as my long term project and a reliable source of income since apart from consuming the milk, I will also be selling them to our nearby town in order to get an extra income. This will change my life for the better, a life that I have long wished.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day because it is at this time when I wake up with some cash from my job of selling the coconut brew which I mostly do it in the evening. Waking up knowing that my children have something to eat gives me a feeling of happiness. Unlike in the afternoon's better part plus evening which I spend at my working site.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The only source of income that I have been depending on is the selling of coconut brew, a job that requires me to spend most of my time at my vending kiosk especially evening hours in order to get my customers. This job earns me very little mostly $5 per day and yet I am expected to share it with my core worker which leaves me with nothing to save. In some cases, I am forced to get help for food from my relatives something that has lowered my dignity, and therefore, the lack of a reliable source of income is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced.
