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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($483 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 expand my clothes business that I operate in our nearest shopping center by buying more stock. When I achieve this, I will move this business to our nearest town since the place I am currently situated in has fewer customers. This will lead to an increase in income and I will be able to support my spouse to cater to our basic needs while he concentrates on paying school fees for our three children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well in all aspects of their operations since there was no partiality in enrolling people in the village by differentiating the poor from the rich. With this, everyone got an equal amount of money and we were able to spend them to meet our needs according to our priorities.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent all amount to build a more spacious permanent house for my family. I bought 42 pieces of iron sheets and paid for the labor since I had already purchased the other building materials using my first transfer. Building a bigger house had been our dream since we used to live in a small house and as the children grow, I knew that it would reach a point where they would need their separate bedroom. I operate a small clothes business in our nearest shopping centers and the profits that I usually get were not enough to meet our basic needs and to save towards this.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the second transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was 9am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was doing my morning chores. I had just finished taking breakfast. When I checked the message I could not believe my eyes. It was message confirming that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money. I knew I would be able to buy the building material. My family members felt so happy too. I withdrew the money after five days. We wanted take our time to plan and decide on the expenditure.
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 have bought building materials ready to build a better and spacious house for my family. We live in a small house which cannot host all the family members comfortably. Whenever I have visitors around it's so demoralizing since I do not have a space to host them. I had to host them outside the house. I do not have a continuous source of income, We depend on small scale farming. We plant beans and potatoes. It's only during a good harvest where we sell the surplus at the market. The income we used it to meet other basic household needs. We do not have an extra income to save. We had always wished to build a better house but there was no money. Currently we have bought all the materials including iron sheets and nails. We are waiting for the second transfer to start the construction process. We are so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled us to fulfill this dream.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the transfer I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing building materials, iron sheets, timber and nails. I am planning on building a better and spacious house for my family. We live in a small house which could not host all the family comfortably. I am waiting for the second transfer to start the construction process. The rest of the money I used on food and clothes. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have been struggling in vain to improve our house to a semi-permanent one due to lack of funds. Currently, we are living in an indecent house that is relatively expensive to maintain. Precisely, our dust is a common nuisance in our mud-walled house. Also, maintenance of the house is costly because I have to smear regularly. So, receiving this money means we shall afford to improve our house into a semi-permanent one. As such, we shall avoid the tiresome maintenance tasks while staying in a cleaner and more decent house. Besides, we shall spend any remaining amount on starting up a business that will get us some income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a housewife and a subsistence farmer, my day is usually packed with lots of activities taking from household chores to farming tasks. I usually handle such activities from dawn to around noon. Hence, the happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I am taking some rest to restore energy in readiness for the next day's duties. Also, I am satisfied at such a time after accomplishing my duties as a responsible parent and wife.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a family, the biggest hardship we have faced is the lack of white-collar jobs despite the acquisition of valuable skills and knowledge. My husband is a trained teacher, yet I am a professional social worker. Unfortunately, we have never managed to secure any formal employment, something that has made us lead a relatively substandard lifestyle.
