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 ($420 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I intend to continue operating my charcoal business to the utmost and may possibly increase my stock over time. I also have plans to start a new shop. And with God's help, I'll gradually save for it by taking money out of my charcoal business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I love everything about GiveDirectly. Because of these transactions, my life has improved significantly. So, I can only express gratitude rather than complaint.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The second transfer was really beneficial. My daughter, who was entering form one, had $200 in school fees, which I was able to cover. I am here to attest that this money arrived just when I needed it. I did not have any, and I am not sure how I would have gotten my daughter to school without it. My daughter might still be living at home. In order to expand our family's room for farming and construction, I was also able to purchase a $200 plot of land. The house's food budget was boosted by $50. In contrast to the chaotic past, at least my children will consume some nice food. Also, I was able to purchase school uniforms and pay for primary-age children's tuition. I have nine children. To further my children's education and other basic needs in the house, I burn and sell charcoal. My husband works irregular hours on a building job. Thank you so much for your generosity, GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($470 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early morning when I received the message. My eyes couldn’t believe that I had received the cash. I took the phone to my children and asked them to confirm whether it was true and the message was not a fraud. I shared the news with my husband, who was away for work, and he was excited as I was about the cash and the plans we had discussed to spend the cash.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is my sons have their own separate house to sleep in and their sleeping pattern has changed because of the mattress I bought. They enjoy their new lifestyle of not sleeping on the floor and having their own space which will allow them to grow into men.I am also happy because I am not ashamed in my village and respect is earned especially now that I have followed the African culture of bringing up boys.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 30,000 to build a one-roomed house with a veranda because I have always desired and planned to leave my house for my sons. I have eight children and the African culture is against having grown men share the same room with their mother. I also bought two mattresses for KES 13,000 because my children have never enjoyed the luxury of sleeping on a mattress. Instead, they have been used to sleeping on the floor, which makes them get used to the back pain all the time. I also paid school fees, arrears of KES 2000, and a goat for KES 3000. The remaining cash was used to buy food for my family of ten members.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a two-bedroom structure that cannot house my family of 9 children. I plan to construct a one-bedroom house that will host my husband and me. I will leave the current house for my children and I would have acquired privacy by doing so. The house will cost us around 35, 000 KES. The remaining amount will be spent on school fees for my son who is currently doing his primary examination and will soon be joining secondary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
0n the 8th of February this year, I successfully delivered my lastborn son. I am happy that I did not experience any complications during my gestation period up to labor. With no hospital insurance cover, I can not even tell the crisis we would have been in, could complications had arisen.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our current challenge is financial instability. My husband who is a mason earns 800 a day's work. There is no steady flow of cash as he can go for days without any job. His old age is also a contributor to his low income as he can long longer do manual work continuously. This forces me to resort to charcoal burning to supplement his earnings. The amount we obtain from our work can not sustain the needs of our big family( eight children). Our firstborn daughter could not join secondary school and hard to undertake a tailoring course for lack of school fees. My great worry is for my son who is yet to join high school might be forced to remain at home owing to our financial constraint at the moment.
