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
55000 KES ($450 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
It has long since been my life long plan to buy and build rental houses. I am hoping to secure funds in one way or another to obtain a 2 or 3 acre tract of land that I can then develop to allow me to be self sufficient financially.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly excel at assisting the needy and doing so in a way that allows recipients to maintain their dignity and self pride. All I can say is that GiveDirectly should keep coming back and offer continued assistance to those in their programmes to help meet other needs and accomplish goals.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The funds from GiveDirectly allowed me to handle quite a few things. My 2nd born who is in form 1 was my firsthand most urgent matter to tackle. I paid KES. 21, 000, and allocated another KES. 8,000 towards school, clothes and shoes. While the eldest of my five kids in in Pentango Secondary School, the other 3 are in Masemo Primary School, studying at the level of Grade 3,4 and 5 respectively. Their fee cumulatively comes to KES. 5,600 and this too was sorted by the funds from GiveDirectly. My eldest works in Nairobi. While my wife works in Mtwapa as a house manager and comes home every end month., I am a casual labourer and get paid KES. 400 a day for farming jobs. These funds were of great help to myself and my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($480 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Being a farmer, I was doing the normal farm business on this day when I received the MPESA text from GiveDirectly. Immediately I read it, I walked off towards the house as I was so elated and overjoyed. I left for the MPESA shop to do the same day withdrawal of the funds.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
A journey it has been and I am now happy and comfortable that my kids will have a roof under their head and a place they can call their own house for now. Also there is sufficient food now after purchasing the food supplements.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the KES 55000 received, I put the amount to good use as I was even able to construct a good looking house providing a good basic shelter for my kids. I bought iron sheets at KES 15300, nails at KES 1500 and an extra KES 2550 for the roofing of the toilet. More to that, I bought two goats at KES 9000 enhancing my animal farming skills. I put in an additional KES 4900 for school fees for my four kids and KES 2760 for food supplements around the house. The balance remaining of KES 18990, I saved it for future reference as I do menial jobs on a daily basis with no sustainable income.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means supporting my hardworking wife who has taken up the role of providing for the family of seven after I fell from a palm tree two years ago. I would also spend the second transfer(KES 55,000) to erect a structure for my children whom we are currently sharing a rooftop. I feel embarrassed sharing a house with our children as this has deprived our privacy.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Having gone through several difficulties in life, however, my wife has been very supportive. This has been the genesis of my joy, I do imagine the trauma I could have gone through were it not for the support she is singlehandedly offering to our family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since leaving my tapping job when I fell from a palm tree two years ago, financial instability has been my greatest challenge. My spouse was forced to seek house help employment for us to be able to provide food for our family of seven. I am nostalgic about the days when we used to have a good time together as a family but it's never the case now as circumstances have forced her to stay away from us(she works far from home and she only visits once in a while)
