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 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 recently built a more spacious house made of timber walls. This had been my dream house ever since and I am happy that I no longer live in a grass-thatched house whose roof always leaks during the rainy season. Because of this, I have a goal of buying even a set of seats and a table so that I will not be borrowing them from my neighbors whenever I have visitors. Owning them will also make my house look more presentable and neat than it is currently since my living room is empty.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in all aspects of its operations. Their officers are kind and polite and with the unconditional financial aid that we received, we were able to transform our living standards by building decent houses, dressing well and buying livestock. I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 30000 to purchase a dairy cow and KES 4000 on a goat. I am growing old and as the days pass by, I am unable to do some casual work to earn income that I can use in meeting our basic needs. Due to this, dairy farming will come in handy as I will be using money from the sale of surplus to meet these needs. Using the remaining KES 16000, I bought food to last for some time, home clothes, and school uniforms for my granddaughter who stays with me.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 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 glad to finally receive the message that warmed my heart from GiveDirectly. I was happy and thankful that God just opened way when I was almost losing hope. As I was still trying to read through the message before confirming whether my account had that money, I had to involve my daughter who was a bit faster in confirming the content both in the message and also the account. It was a great moment for me as this was a sign on initiating all the projects that I had put in place as I was waiting for the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Construction of a new house is all I have always wished for and just like any other member of my village, I am grateful and I consider this the biggest difference in my daily life so far. After moving to the new house, I am glad to confirm that the warmth inside has drastically reduced the visits to the hospital that was costly to me and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been living with my grandchild for over six years now and even though it has just been the two of us in the house. Meeting all the household financial obligations has never been easier for me. I had been tying all I could both in farming and also small businesses with the hope of accumulating enough money to construct a new house but in most cases, things have not been working well for me. On receiving the first transfer, I spent KES 47000 on obtaining enough timber, 15 iron sheets, nails, building poles, and also settling the labor charges on the construction of my new house. The initial one that I had been living in was too old especially on the roof since it would allow a lot of water in through the openings between the grass bundles. I am glad that after the construction I am not being affected by the cold that had led to the frequent visits to the hospitals due to chest and lungs problems. With the remaining amount, I managed to purchase enouigh household goods that include clothing for both my grandchild and me, and also foodstuff that we are still using to date.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My grass thatched kitchen is in a very bad condition. It leaks in water during the rainy season and my 3 grandchildren sleep there as the other house is very small. Receiving this money will therefore mean they will get a safe and warm place to sleep. I plan to use KES 35,000 of my transfer to build a two roomed house, one room to serve as a kitchen and the other to serve as grandchildren/visitors room. I will then use KES 35,000 to buy a cow to add to the one I have. In about two years time I will be getting close to 9 litres of milk per day from the 4 litres per day I am getting now. This will increase my daily earnings from sale of milk by KES 150 per day.It will make me to be financially independent and I can comfortably provide for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On a normal day, I wake up to prepare breakfast for my grandchildren and get them ready for school. I am then left to do a few household chores at home. The happiest part of my day is when my grandchildren come back from school in the evening. This is when I spend time and talk to them about life. Nurturing them makes me feel happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widower and I am taking care of 3 grandchildren who their mother left behind when they separated with her husband. With my age, I am no longer that productive as I used to be during my prime years. I am unable to perform all the household chores by myself and other activities like farming. I mostly rely on my grand children after they are back from school to do the chores and I feel I am burdening them.At the same time, I do not have a stable source of income and I depend on my children to cater for my family basic needs. This for me is the biggest hardship I have ever experienced.
