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 ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have any new goal now in that I am still focusing on completing the construction of the new shop that I started using the previous transfer. Secondly, I am planning on starting a small business salon when the construction is done. I am so grateful because were it not GiveDirectly all this could have taken quite some time to achieve.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly Does well in that they conduct the mobilization well and the training as well. Most of the people who received the transfer spent it well. Some have built better houses while others have bought dairy cows among other noble activities that changed the entire community. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25,000 on purchasing all the building materials and building a better and more spacious house for my family. We lived in a small grass thatched house that could not host all my family well. I am so happy that we now live so well without any worry. I spent KES 20,000 on paying school fees for my son. currently, he is no longer being sent home like before. He is studying well and does not miss any lessons. I expect to see a better performance this academic year. The remaining amount of money I spent on food clothes and household basic needs. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our standard of living to be much better than before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around midnight while asleep when I heard an SMS alert on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES55000 and I was very grateful to God and withdrew the money the next day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving this transfers is building my own salon hence the obligation of paying rent is no more.The transfers also enabled me to clear school fees and settle debts and I am grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25000 on purchase of construction materials for my salon.This is because I have been paying rent for the past twenty years and was fed up. I also spent KES10000 on payment of school fees for my son in high school.The rest I used in settlement of debts
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I'm a single mother living with my 4 children in our small hut. I have two boys and two girls, one of the girls stays on her own with her children but the rest live in my house. Because of our culture I had to build my eldest son a different hut to stay in and I'm left with my daughter and young son. When school closes we clump together in the hut and there is no space. The hut serves as our kitchen, bedroom and sitting room. My wish is to have bigger house to accommodate all three of us and even have room for visitors when I have some. I plan on using KES 45,000 to build a 3 bedroom iron roofed house. The total cost will include labour and materials for construction. I also plan on using most of my second transfer on paying school fees for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My eldest son finished his primary education in March this year and passed highly by attaining 373 marks out 500 marks. He was called into one of the national schools in Bomet County but the school fees was too high for me to admit him into the school. Out of the blues a well-wisher opted to sponsor him but to a different school in Eldoret county called Turbo boys. Not only did he make me proud but also being able to be sponsored has reduced my school expenses and I'm left with the other two. Him being admitted to a school in a different county has also given me a chance to visit a new destination and appreciate our country's nature.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I work as a hairdresser in our small town. I'm known by villagers to be the best in my area of expertise, but dispute this I have very few customers. Most of the villagers find it hard to pay for my services even though they are at a fair price because they live in poverty. Per day I get an income of about KES 300-400 and it is insufficient for all my household needs. I need to pay school fess for my children and purchase food for them with the daily wage I get from my business. I also have to pay a rental fee of KES 1,000 for my business premise, all these expenses have made it hard to live with my current income and I sometimes have to borrow cash from friends.
