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 ($467 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have a new goal that I did not have before receiving the transfer. My main goal prior to receiving the transfer was to build a better and spacious house for my family. This is because we were living in a small house where we were not comfortable.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The trainings and the registration process were done well and all the people in our village received the transfer and spent it well. Most invested in dairy farming and paying school fees for their children. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent all the second transfer on purchasing building materials to complete the construction of my new house that I started using the first transfer. I was able to buy sand, cement and gravel. I had exhausted the first transfer on materials and paid off the workers. I used to live in a small house that could not host all my family. I had always wished to own a bigger house but I did not have money to start the construction process or even to purchase the building materials. I am so happy now because I have a decent house, the floor is Cemented and we are no longer being exposed to dusty related particles. Whenever I have visitors I can host them comfortably. I am so happy because were it not GiveDirectly all this could not have happened on time. It could have taken quite some time to own this.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($492 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home alone when I received a message confirming the receipt of my first transfer. I could not quite comprehend the consent of the message when I received but the Mpesa and the amount were clear enough to give me a hint. I was very excited knowing that most of the projects that I had been having in mind would be starting as soon. I thanked God and informed the other members of the family that we had received the amount we had been expecting as we needed to plan on withdrawal the next day before getting down to spending on the construction work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy of realizing a dream that I have had for quite a long time. The construction of a new house that is decent and spacious enough had been my wish, but the lack of sufficient finances to initiate it has never allowed me to. With the first transfer, I had been able to go beyond 75% of the construction work with the hope of completing it once I receive the second transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been grateful since the first day of confirmation of the receipt of the transfer as I have been seeing a lot of changes in my household. After living in a mud-walled house that was always dusty and needed repairs every time it rained, I saw this as an opportunity to construct a new one with wooden walls. So far, I have cut enough timber, purchased iron sheets, nails, and other construction materials that have brought the construction to some steps away from completion. Even though I have exhausted the whole amount after using KES4500 on buying foodstuff and the remaining KES50000 on the construction, I am hopeful that the construction will come to completion once I receive the second transfer. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the generous support that has changed the village outlook as many families have constructed new houses and also purchased livestock.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better education for my children. I intend to use KES 20000 to clear school fees for my sons in grade 12 and grade 6 . Furthermore, I will purchase a dairy cow at KES 30000 for the 2 I currently have cannot produce enough income (KES 3000 ) to sustain food and education for my household. Additionally, I will purchase posts and barbed wire (KES 30000) to fence my compound and hence have peace with my neighbours as the animals will not be trespassing. I will use the rest of the transfers on food and clothing for the household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually wake up at 6am daily to prepare breakfast for my 3 children before they go to school. I milk the cows and then take them for grazing upto 12 noon. I therefore get back to the compound to attend to the house chores. I am happy in the afternoon for the grandchildren are back from school and I spend quality time with them. It is at this time that my loneliness is swept away and my joy rejuvenated.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widow who depend on subsistence farming for a living. I have been the breadwinner since my husband passed on in 2018. I have sold all the trees and goats in the compound to educate the 3 children who are still in school . Nevertheless, I have been drained financially for I depend on the only remaining source of income (2 cows that produce KES 3000 monthly) to cater for my childrens' education. I at times let them school on loan and this is my biggest hardship.
