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
53150 KES ($461 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to clear the dowry payment for my wife. It has been two years now since she was forced to return to her maternal home due to the pending dowry payment. This has left me heartbroken since I can no longer have the bond that I had when I was still having my kids at home. I had desired to reunite with my family members which are my 3 children and wife whenever I get some money.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well for coming with the cash transfer program in our village. In addition, the enrollment processes were done fairly and every household which qualified was enrolled in the program without any discrimination. In my opinion, I can say there is nothing that I feel it was not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to complete the construction of my one-roomed house that I had started with the first transfer. This was because I was living in a tiny house which was not enough to fully accommodate me and all my household's commodities. This is because I lack the financial capacity to construct a big one since I do not have a reliable job. I also used KES 3000 to clear the food debt at our nearby shop where I had been taking foodstuffs on loan.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9.05am when I received the transfer message. I jumped out of bed filled with joy for I was still in bed trying to figure out where I could get something to work on so as to earn a living. As a bachelor, I have been struggling to define my life so as to have my own family but the ends were pulling apart. I felt so relieved knowing that some of my plans were going to kick off.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I own a good house now. Initially my living situation was poor. Sometime I could go without food, no good shelter and poor clothing. But since the day I received your support my life have greatly changed positively and am seeing bright days. I live in a good house not as before, when I used to live in a small-poor house. We can now afford some food not as before when we used to sleep hungry. All this is because Give Direct is at my rescue, I appreciate the support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on buying 20 pieces of iron sheets at a cost of KES 15600.00, rafters at KES 4000.00, 60 poles at KES 6000.00. I also bought some clothes at KES 2500.00 and kept the rest for the contractor and for food. I opted to construct a new house since the one I was having was too small and in a poor state. It was not in a state worthy a human being to dwell in.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a long-term investment project in my household. This is because I am planning to spend $600 of my transfer to buy 6 goats and 3 indigenous cows. Since I don't have a reliable source of income to depend on, this will help me in getting milk to sell and earn income. The remaining amount will help me to construct a decent house because the one I currently have is not spacious.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning because it is at this time when I usually get out of my house to go to my working site. At this time, I get so happy since it's through this work that I get food from.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The lack of a better job that can sustain my needs is what has been my biggest hardship. This is because I currently do casual jobs that earn me $3 per day and this goes to food. Hence, I have not been able to construct a better house and also fail to have a project that I can depend on for my future life.
