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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($521 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been living in a mud-walled house with one side covered in polythene. This is because the mud on the wall had come down to rains in my area. When I am in the house I could see someone coming through the polythene and it was a very big security risk in my family and my properties. Building a new house has really relieved me of the stress I used to have about my family security and well being. I feel so much as peace because of the new house I built with GD transfers.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GD did well in coming out in the open and calling everyone in public. Teaching us and elaborating their program to use was an added advantage. We agreed to what we know which was the best way. There is nothing GD did wrong.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my transfer on buying building materials such as iron sheets and nails which I added to the ones I had bought earlier with part of my first transfers. I have used the materials to put up a decent and spacious house which can now accommodate my family well. I am glad I used the transfers this way. I also used part of the money to pay school fees arrears for my children so that they may not be sent home for fees arrears anymore. I would not also want to go through the stress I went through when they were reporting back to school for the second term.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($533 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning a home is still like a dream to me. My life has totally changed as a result of this. I used to have a very small house and its condition was critical. It could not accommodate us all. This used to stress me since I am a single parent and was responsible for everything in my family yet I didn't have a stable job. I depended on the little money I got from the casual jobs. I always thank God for bringing Give Directly to my village. Had it not been for the financial support I received from them, I could not be living under a permanent iron-roofed well-plastered house anytime soon.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3 am. I was just from the latrine when I heard my phone vibrating. When I checked, I found out it was an Mpesa message from Give Directly. I was so happy because first, they erased all the doubts I had about the organization. I was also excited because I was facing a lot and had been praying hard for a financial breakthrough. I can't thank them enough, I will continue praying for them so that they continue helping others the same way they helped me.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Since I have been longing to live in a permanent house, I spent a large portion of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets at KES 17500, 50 building poles at 250 each and nails at KES 2240. I also used 5500 for the labor charges. I then used KES 10,000 to pay school fees for my son. I am glad he won't be sent home any time soon. This will allow him to study peacefully without any distraction. Since there has been a long drought we have not been harvesting for a while. I, therefore, bought sufficient foodstuffs for my family with the remaining amount of money.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A decent house, paying school fee and restarting my business of selling second hand clothes is what receiving this money means to me. Currently, I am a single parent after separating with my husband thirteen years ago. This has forced me to be the solely breadwinner for my children, a situation that makes my family to be a needy one. We are living in a disastrous house which is just braving the strong wind of this area, and I plan to construct a decent one whenever I get my first transfer from GiveDirectly. My other plan is to use my second disbursement on paying school fee for my daughter and also to reestablish my business of selling second hand clothes which failed due to inadequate capital. This will transform my life for the better, a change that I have longed for.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning, I clean my compound and leave to fetch water from a water pan which is five kilometers away from my home because the ones nearby have dried up. When I am back home, I feel much exhausted but I take my time to rest and start preparing my day's first meal. In the evening, my daughter would have come home from her place of work and she assists me in doing the household chores, something that gives me much time to rest. Therefore, I consider evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Life in our village is very challenging owing to the fact that, people depend most on farming yet, rains are seasonal and unpredictable. Since I am a peasant farmer, I am highly affected by these prolonged droughts which consequently have dried up our water pans and our farms. There are no harvests for the past two consecutive seasons, something that makes me struggle much in providing my family's basic needs. Therefore, lack of adequate harvests and drinking water has been my biggest hardship.
