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 ($455 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?
After settling well at my plot and starting my own home, I now have the sole goal of ensuring that my children get a quality education. This will be assured by making an effort of paying their school fees in time to avoid them from being sent home for fees. By so doing, they will have ample time to concentrate on their studies. To achieve this, my husband is doing some little savings from the small income he gets from the casual labor jobs he gets from time to time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is a life-changing organization. I am a testimony to this. Before the organization came into my life, I used to struggle a lot not only with my children's education but also with the family's basic needs. There was no food, no fees, and poor bedding. We used to sleep hungry for up to two days a week but since the time GiveDirectly gifted me with the transfers, I was able to settle the hardships and we are now doing well as a family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having a place you own as a home is a pleasant thing that everyone yearns for. And it feels great to live in a comfortable and secure house. Since I had my piece of land which I bought, I used the first transfer to construct a house on it. unfortunately, I could not complete the house because I ran out of money in the process. Therefore, upon receiving the second transfer, I opted to finalize the construction by buying the remaining items. I bought 9 pieces of iron sheets and some roofing nails for $115. Currently, I am very happy since my family dwells in a good iron sheet roofed house not like before when rain used to leak into the house because the grass roof was leaking. I also used $50 to buy a mattress for my children who used to sleep on torn mats. As of now, I am a happy mother seeing my children sleeping comfortably on a mattress. Thereafter, I paid $60 for school fees for my eight primary school children who were often out of school for fees. Currently, they are all settled and conducting their studies well. For the remaining amount, I bought some foodstuff for the family to ensure food security at home.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($466 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 5pm when I was on my way to the water point. I decided to check immediately what the message was all about. To my surprise, it was the first transfer from GiveDirectly. Upon reaching home, I called my husband to inform him of the same. On the second day when he came, we withdrew the money and did whatever we had placed to.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that I can testify of GiveDirectly is that, I hadn’t slept well on a nice bed at my home before but through the transfer, I was able to purchase a mattress. Also the transfer enabled me to clear all the pending and the current school fees for my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On withdrawing the money, I first paid school fee arrears of KES 5000.00, and then paid the full required fees of KES 4020.00. I also bought two mattresses for KES 10500.00. Thereafter, I bought some construction materials such as timbers and iron sheets worthy KES 16500.00. I did the roofing of a a house which had already started building and the walls were ready. I also did some shopping for food stuff. I bought sack of rice, a sack of maize flour
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My elder brother and his wife died 5 years ago after a short illness. They left behind a son who was in primary school. I had to adopt the child because the rest of the family felt that it is a burden to them. Though life was not easy for me too because I work as a mason and I also have a family of 9 members to take care of. I had no option but to take care of him. He completed his secondary education last year and passed his exams. He is waiting to join college. Receiving this money means good education to him. I am planning to spend KES 40,000 to take him to college to undertake a teaching course. I believe that he will be employed in the future and support us. Also, I will spend the remaining amount to build a separate structure for my 8 children with whom we are sharing the same house and it is not enough.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My stepson whom I adopted because he is an orphan, completed his secondary school last year but he is yet to go to college, secured a job 2 months ago. Though the job is temporary, he has been supporting me with some basic needs from his wages of KES 15,000 monthly. This brought a lot of happiness to me because at least nowadays I do not struggle a lot compared to before when I was the only breadwinner in a family of 9 members.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial challenges are the biggest hardship I am currently facing. I work as a mason in the village. The rate of people who are interested to build a permanent house is very low hence making it difficult for me to go a whole week without a job. On a good day, I make approximately KES 500 which is not enough to cater to all my needs such as food and school fees. Prolong drought is another challenge I am experiencing too.
