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 ($510 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have build a better house. We used to live in a small grass thatched house which was leaking from inside. The house was so old and it could fall down on us anytime. When I had visitors I could take them to spent a night at the neighbor's house. This was so demoralizing since it was so risky to walk at night. It was also not good because there was no privacy. Whenever I had family meetings I could host them outside under a tree becuase there was no enough space inside. In case it rains the meeting could just end like that. My children were also not happy because they didn't have a privacy spending nights at the neighbor's house. Currently I have a spacious and decent house. I no longer shy to welcome visitors to my house, family gathering I host them comfortably without any problem. My children are so happy because they have a room to sleep and also to do there homework. I used to do casual jobs and I didn't had enough money to save to build a house. The money I could get was so small and only for household items. GiveDirectly has change our living standard and we are so grateful for the support.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly to complete the construction that I had started using the previous transfer. I now own a better house which can host all my family members comfortably. We used to live in a small grass thatched house before. I also bought sofa set seats and tables for the new house. It look so decent and I nowadays do not shy to welcome visitors to my house like before. Finally I bought food and clothes for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy with my house chores when I received a message notification and quickly, I checked and to my surprise, I had received KES 55000 to my mobile money account. I was full of joy and happiness. This was the time when I knew that God is there for me. As I had been yearning to have a house but I couldn't afford. This was the time when I knew that I am going to have a better shelter over our heads.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is our new house which we recently completed and we now enjoy a more specious room. Not only about the specious room alone now I can harvest rain water which we can use for cooking and laundry. Before we were living in a small grass tauched where we were forced to renew the roofing materials before rainy season began.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The money which I received as my first transfer from GiveDirectly, I had pre set plan to spend on. I spent KES 40000 on buying ironsheets, nails, posts and timber for constructing a new house. I then spent KES 5000 on paying for labour for the house construction. I made this move since we had a small hut which was so squeezed for my growing family. After completing the house, I bought a matress and two blankets at a cost of KES 5000. I then bought some utensils at KES 3000 and the remaining amount of KES 2000 I spent on paying school fees for my children.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I will use this money to building a house and buy A cow. I am a casual labourer and I am not in a position to get enough money to do all these projects. This money is the best opportunity for me to build a house and buy a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning at around 8am, this is because I have just woke up and I haven't face any difficult task. My routine is tiresome because the tasks that I indulged in are laborious.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In 2013, my husband sold the land that we called it home and sent us away. Before that, he demolished our house and that was why I chose to come back home to my mother. I worked hard until I get this piece of land that I call it a home.
