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 ($478 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?
God willing, once I get the money I am planning to build a new kitchen because the current one is in a bad state.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well to give us cash which has helped to complete the unfinished projects.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly, I had a 3,000 liters water tank in which water would be used up fast. This forced me to borrow water from the neighborhood every time. So when the transfers came, I spent KES 38,000 on my transfers on a 5,000 liters water tank. This has helped in the storage of more water and as a result, there is no more water scarcity in my house.
Secondly, I used KES 10,000 on the completion of my house which I had started using the first transfers.
Lastly, I spent KES 5,000 on the latest clothing fashion and the rest on food. This is because I normally rely on my husband who does casual labor for food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 9:00 a.m. when I received a message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of the first transfer. I was so excited about this news that even though I was alone at home, I had to relay the message to my family as soon as they were home. My husband at that moment was out to his usual job and on conveying the news, he receive it with joy and promised that we will stick to the plan that we had already made on spending. I transferred all the money to his account and he withdrew the following day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the changed mindset that I now have after ensuring a strict expenditure on the plans that we had set to do. I am glad that I have seen a lot happening with the first transfer and hoping to do more once I receive the second transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With a family of seven, it has been hard for all of us to share a small space within our current house. The receipt of the transfer was an opportunity for us to construct an extension on the main house to provide a room for my five children. I purchased 14 iron sheets, construction poles, around 130 timber, bricks, sand, and also gravel at a total cost of KES 51000. According to the constructor, the materials will be enough to construct a new room and all I am still looking forward to buying is some bags of cement. I also spent the remaining on buying clothing after paying KES 10000 from my savings to the labor charges that worked on the construction of the foundations. I am glad that all is set for the construction and will soon see the new room ready for my children.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Construction of our semi-permanent house has stalled for over five years due to a lack of funds. Gains from my clothes business is just enough to meet our basic needs. In that regard, I will use about KES 50000 of the transfer on completing it as well as purchasing some furniture. Besides, I will use the remaining amount as fees for our four school-going children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have been leasing land for crop farming since we own only 0.4 acres. Unfortunately, the project has been unfruitful due to unfavorable climatic conditions and tropical diseases. Early this year, 2021, we were blessed with a relatively huge harvest of maize (over 1000 kilograms) from the project. We sold about 500 kilograms to raise school fees for our children. Besides, we have had adequate food as a family. Overall, the bumper harvest has dramatically improved our lives.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The continued insufficiency of fresh water for domestic and agricultural uses is our biggest challenge. Since we live in an area that usually experiences long dry spells yet there is no perennial river in our neighborhood, we have been forced to borrow water from my neighbor's dam. This is because we have never managed to establish a dam. Unfortunately, our neighbor's dam would dry up regularly due to the high demand for water from the community.
