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 ($468 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?
With the help of GiveDirectly transfers, I have completed the semi-permanent house that had stalled for a year. Therefore, right now I am planning to construct modern semi-permanent toilets. This should meet the standard of the house and this will be possible from my saving from the monthly merry-go-round contributions.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well to enroll every household in my village showing no partiality at all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly came, my incomplete semi-permanent house had stalled for a year due to a lack of money. So, when I received the first transfer I used it in painting inside and outside of the house. And when I received the second transfer I used KES 20,000 in tiling and ceiling.
Secondly, I have a family of five and my husband works for one of the government parastatals. Because he has a salary he normally pays school fees and supports farming. From dairy farming, I get four liters sold at KES 45 per liter. I also do sukuma wiki and indigenous vegetable farming where I get up to KES 300 in a week. The income from both dairy and vegetables farming helps in household expenditures. Recently, when I received GiveDirectly came, I spent KES 10,000 on food and the latest clothing fashion.
Last but not least, from the second transfers
I used KES 20,000 on four goats. These will not only act as a long-term future investment but as also a memorial gift from GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($497 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home doing general cleaning when I heard a message notification on my phone and I immediately opened it to know who would have sent me an SMS at that time. To my surprise, it was a Mpesa message indicating that I had the promised money from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy on realizing this and I thanked God for the support that I had received. With the money in my account, I knew our plan of completing the construction of our house would soon materialize. I called my spouse to inform him about the good news and he was equally happy and grateful for this wonderful gift that brought smiles to our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am happy that I have been able to complete building a permanent house for my family after leaving it incomplete for a whole year as paying school fees for our two children in boarding school had weighed us down financially. We will be moving into this house very soon and I am glad that GiveDirectly enabled us to achieve our dream. Whenever I see my completed house and remember how it was a month ago, I give glory to God for He has shown us that everything is possible no matter how long it takes.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We had started building a permanent house but left it incomplete due to insufficient funds as we were always forced to use all the money we get on our basic needs and to pay school fees for our children. When I received my transfer, I saw it as an opportunity to complete this house thus I spent KES 41000 on it. Also, I bought a water tank worth KES 16000 after topping up some amount so that we can be using it to harvest rainwater for domestic use. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me to achieve these two goals that would have taken me years before achieving them.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an accomplished project. We have a house that is still under construction but it stalled due to the inadequacy of funds. My husband used to work in a reputable organization in Nairobi but he, unfortunately, lost it due to a coronavirus pandemic. He was among the staff that was laid off and he had to struggle extra hard to make ends meet. Therefore, with an estimated cost of KES 30,000, we hope the whole project will be accomplished using the transfer from Give Directly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a housewife and my usual day entails doing my household chores in the morning such as laundry work, washing dishes, and taking care of my small child who is yet to go to school. I spent the rest of the afternoon herding our four cows and taking them to the river for water. I feel more relaxed in the evening while resting from the tiresome day which makes it the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been the biggest hardship we have faced in life. Over the past 10 years, we have been unable to harvest sufficient maize due to unknown diseases. Initially, we used to plant approximately 2 acres of land harvesting about 14 bags of maize. Unlike today, we only plant one acre of it harvesting utmost 2 bags yet we rely on maize for food. This amount is unsustainable to cater to a family of five for a year. Food insecurity has been our biggest worry as a family.
