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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than it would have been if I had never received my transfer in that, I am living happily after getting back my personal solitude. I never imagined I will get such amount of money to be able to build a house for my child. Also I was able to buy ox and plough which will improve my farming by replacing my traditional ways of using hands for farming.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I thank Givedirectly for the grant that has transformed my life. Through the transfer, I was able to improve my farming by purchasing Ox-plough and I got back my privacy by building a separate house for my son.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my second transfer on acquiring ox and ox-plough for $300 this will assist me in preparing my farm. Previously, I was using my hand to prepare my firm which was very slow, energy draining and not effective than ox-plough. I will also hire it to my neighbour at a fee to earn a living once I compete preparing my firm. I also purchased 20 iron sheets , timber and nails for $200 this was for the construction a house for my son, we use to stay in the same house which is against our custom.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember hearing my neighbours saying that GiveDirectly had sent the money they had promised. I called my helper to check if this was true. To my surprise, I had also received KES 55000 in my Mpesa account. I felt happy for this support because I would build a new house for my family.
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 am now sheltering in my newly constructed and spacious iron roofed house. I was initially living in a small house which could not accommodate my children. They had to seek shelter from my neighbours at night. Through the transfer, I was able to buy some building materials such as iron sheets, nails and building poles to construct the new spacious house. I am happy to have my children in the same house since they are still young.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of the transfer to buy building materials which include 35 pieces of iron sheets, building poles and nails to facilitate building a new house. The previous house was very small and could not accommodate my children. They had to seek shelter elsewhere at night. I am glad that they will no longer be troubled on where to stay. Apart from this, I also spent KES 9000 on bought an an ox plough for my pair of oxen to aid me in my farming. I had a pair of oxen but I was hiring the ox plough from my neighbours. I am relieved of the hiring costs having my own for ploughing.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had the ambition of building a spacious house and starting a kiosk business which can enable me to get profit to cater for my family needs such as food and clothing. When I get the GiveDirectly transfer, I will use 50,0000 shillings to build the house, 20,000 shillings to start the kiosk and the remaining amount to pay school fees for my children since learning institutions might be reopened soon.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I sell vegetables and do laundry jobs at our nearby town. The job is tiresome because I have to walk from one house to another. Evening becomes the happiest part of my day because this is the time when I am counting my earnings from the jobs and a I get to feed my family from the income.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest concern is lack of finances. I separated with my husband at a time when I had young children and no income to feed them. Everyday I used to carry my youngest child to a nearby town searching for laundry jobs so that we can get our daily meal. Nobody in our family was there to help us in that difficult situation.This really stressed me for a long time because it came unexpectedly.
