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
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I lost a wife before GiveDirectly began the program, and according to our customs, I was to built a new house so that when I marry, I should have new house, but this could not happen because of lack of enough resources to fulfill all those. With the money received, I managed everything. I wanted to have electricity for business purpose and lighting, since I was poor, it could not be possible, but now it is a complete project. My life is really different.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has given us equal opportunity to develop ourselves in terms of economic development. People had developed in different areas, like farming, livestock keeping, education, trade and others had started microfinance for credit services.
The organization has done very little to help those who had reached responsibility age, but didn't have houses of their own, but were living in their mother's houses. I believe they could had been given equal share.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfer on electric installation and Sofa set.
I had a plan of having electricity in my home because it is convenient, affordable and available most of the time. I wanted to start hatchery for chicks and sell the one day old chicks to poultry farmers, the project which I am about to start.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($540 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that, previously my househlods could be rained on including the bedding leaving me with no option but to sleep on a sack but this is not the case anymore because I constructed a decent house with part of the first ransfer.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My phone had gone off overnight due to insufficient power so the following morning after switching on the phone I was shocked to receive a confirmation message that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I considered that day the best day of my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
At the time I received the money I, unfortunately, fell ill so part of the money I spent on medication. Part of the money I spent on building materials which I have already used to construct a new house. This is because the previous house was a small leaking grass thatched and at times I could be forced to sleep on sacks after all the bedding had been rained on. Aside from that, it was expensive to maintain the house because I had to budget for grass after every two months.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will be able to build a new house. The current house is leaky and very small that it offers very little privacy with my son because I am planning to re-marry because I am already done with mourning my late wife. This transfer is going to make this work because for many months nowI have tried to save for the house project but because of our food needs I end up using all the savings. I will also use part of the transfer to lease a piece of land and plant sugarcane which upon maturity shall yield more money to support my plans of buying a parcel of land in future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is usually while with my peers in the field while cutting cane. In the farms we have very interesting jokes and stories as we work. The motivation is that we get paid daily in the evening and the assurance of the cash that will enable me buy food for my family creates the joy to work even harder.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced was loosing my wife after short illness. I had gotten used to her companion because she always stayed home with my little boy as I go working in sugarcane farms where we do cane cutting, currently I have to work within our locality because I have to get back home and cook and care for my young son.Atleast now after building a new house Is will consider re-marrying so that I shall have someone to stay with my son.
