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 ($502 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In a few days from now, I will be moving to my new semi-permanent house that is once I fix the doors and the windows. This was made possible by the transfer from GiveDirectly since I would not have done it without the transfer. I currently live in a grass-thatched hut and since it had deteriorated, iI decided to build a better one. I am also glad that with the remaining amount of money, I would be able to buy a cow for rearing.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I loved that the transfer came without any condition of use and each of us would use it as they see fit. Therefore the fear of 'not well used' was eliminated. The project was well planned and done.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received the first transfer, I built and I am in the final touches of finishing it up. When received the second I saved the whole amount of it and planning to build another house for my son and to buy a cow.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($547 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built a better and spacious house. We used to live in a small grass-thatched house that could not host all of us comfortably. I depend on small casual jobs in the village to earn an income to meet the daily basic needs of my family. This small amount could not enable me to buy an iron sheet and other needed materials to build a better house. Living in one house which acted as a kitchen and place to sleep was so stressful. It is a taboo in our culture to spend a night with grown-up boys in one room. Due to this, I had to spend nights at my mother's place and leave the house to my children. Walking at night was not safe for me. When I received the money from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew I would be in a position to build a better house for my children. Currently, because of a decent and spacious house, I no longer fear to welcome visitors to my house, I no longer spend nights at my mother's house, My children have room to study and have their own privacy. I am so much happy and no more stress like before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when I received my money I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I remember it was very early in the morning when I was checking my phone as usual little did I know that GiveDirectly has sent me KES 55000. My family members also celebrated so much because they knew that we would be in a position to build a house.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spend my first transfer to build better and spacious houses for my family. We to live in a small grass-thatched house with my children. The house could not host all of us comfortably and it was so stressful. The remaining amount of money I used it to buy food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a single grass thatched house with all my family members. The house is old, not spacious enough and rains inside during a heavy downpour. Receiving this transfer will mean that I will be able to use part of it to construct a semi permanent house that is spacious enough to house all of us and give my kids a private room to carryout their studies uninterrupted. Additionally, I will use the remaining balance to buy one dairy cattle since I do not have one and hence stop regular purchase of milk for my family's usage.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After I am done with my usual morning household chores, I head to the nearby hotel and carry water for them until the daily target amount is reached. Later in the afternoon I get paid and then pass by the nearest market to buy some foodstuffs to cook for my kids. It is at this time that I feel happy since I know that my kids will have something to take for supper.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I solely depend on casual labour of supplying water to a nearby hotel manually(on my back) on a daily basis in order to fend for my family. The little I get paid from this is hardly enough to cater for the basic needs of my family and as a result I have to engage myself in other casual jobs like on people's farms as a gardener. This kind(s) of work have taken a toil at my body and I hardly get enough sleep since I feel pain all night on my body.
