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 ($539 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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What did you spend your second transfer on?
My elder son had a problem of not having a sleeping room. He used to sleep in my neighbors house where he was not very comfortable because there were so many conditions and complains. So when I got the cash transfer I thought of building for my son house and I spent the most of the cash transfer to buy building materials and built for my son a house. My son now have a very nice comfortable house to sleep in, where privacy is paramount. He no longer goes to my neighbors to spend a night there. I am also at peace because I no longer experience so much complains from my neighbor and my son too. I also spent the transfer to buy him mattress and bed since he did have his own bedding to sleep on, he was sharing bedding with his friends at the neighbor. The remaining balance I spent to buy for my son furniture atleast to have something that he can sit on or even when he has visitors he does not need to borrow furniture.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion give directly did well by give money to the right people who deserves it. It was also a very good idea that we were trained before enrollment and this helper so many people made a wise decision when they received the money. I am happy because the money was being sent direct to us there was no third part. I did not see what give directly did not do well.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference in my daily life is that my son now have his own sleeping room and there he does not need to look for a place to sleep in from the neighbour's as he used to do before. I also now have a very comfortable place where my visitors too can spend their night as compared to before when I would take them to neighbor's house. If could not received money from give directly I could still be stressed thinking of where my son could sleep in.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer on paying school fees for my daughter who had been sent home for the same for the second time. She was almost missing her end of year examinations because of the same. This was my first priority when I received this transfer. The rest of the transfer, I used in buying iron sheets which I will give my son to support him in building his house since he has come of age and needs to have a house of his own. Due to his low-income from casual work, he has not been able to build a house of his own.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I received this transfer, I could not believe the message informing me I had received money from Give Directly. I had to re-read the message and call my husband to help me confirm it. When he confirmed it to me, I was very happy and cracked some jokes with him to help me calm doown because I was very nervous.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my life now is that school fees arrears for my daughter who had been sent home several times this year have been settled. This has been my biggest worry since the little I get from casual work could not support us in food and school fees. I once took a loan to help me in paying school fees and when I was not able to pay back, they took my goat instead. When I received this transfer, I just felt I needed to settle the arrears so that my daughter can study in peace and avoid the shame I used to go through when she was being sent home for the same. Right now I feel at peace because GD has helped me accomplish this goal of paying school fees.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I currently face is unceasing struggle to pay fees for my school going children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up strong and able to prepare my children to go to school. Seeing them going to school gives me an assurance of a bright future ahead of them.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a big relief to me and my family. I shall spend part of it to pay fees for my children hence I shall be relieved from the burden of paying school fees.