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 almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, my new goal is to boost my small grocery business which I had started with my first transfer. This is because it is yet to stabilize due to less capital. Most of the customers have to walk a long distance to get some products from other groceries because of fewer stock.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well for helping the less fortunate households in our village. Most of the households have improved their living standards through the assistance. I don't see anything that it does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 18,000 to boost my goat rearing, an activity that I have been depending on for our upkeep and educating my grandchildren. This is because goats are less costly to raise and they can endure drought compared to cows. In addition, I used KES 10000 to support the educational needs of my 3 grandchildren who were left under my care after their mother died some years ago. With the remaining amount, I used KES 9000 to clear the labor charges for the construction of a decent house for my family. The other part assisted me in feeding my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11 in the morning when I had just finished taking my breakfast when my phone started ringing. I was so curious and eager to know who it could be because I was expecting to hear from GiveDirectly at that particular month. Since I am illiterate I asked my helper to check for me what the notification was all about. After checking she realized that it was the Mpesa message I had anxiously been waiting for. I was so happy and after informing my family members they all happily celebrated the financial blessing.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that house I am now sheltering in a decent house. Previously I used to stay in a very smal house which was in a very critical condition. I was even worried one of these fine days would collapse. During the rainy seasons, it was so hectic because we used to move from one homestead to the other seeking shelter. With my family of five sometimes it wasn't easy for our neighbors to accommodate us. Therefore we ended up being rained in our small house till the rain stops which could affect our health regularly. I have however been yearning to build a better one but since I am a widow and very old, I have even been depending on children for my daily bread. They also didn't have a reliable source of income and the little they could earn was only to provide at least one or two meals. This means building for me a house would take years. I am so grateful that I managed to fulfill my heart desires and I feel secure. Also, I do not have to worry about the rain and the insects that have been harming us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying school fees of KES 12000 for my two grandchildren who are in secondary. It has always been my joy to see them going to school every morning with their friends because they have always been on and off due to arrears. I also bought some building poles which cost 3500, iron sheets at KES 10000, nails, timber, and the labor charge of KES 6000. This was purposely for the construction of a new house beasue the initial one was almost collapsing and it was very small. I am happy I will now be able to accommodate all my five family members under one roof. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a descent and a spacious house for my family and any visitor who might come to check on us. The house I live in is in bad condition and dangerous for any person to live. Sometimes I feel ashamed whenever I get a visitor because of the condition of my house. The walls have some cracks and the house is nolonger stable and can collapse anytime. I am planning to use 500 dollars from the GiveDirectly transfers to construct a two bedroom house for my family. This will make me a happy woman and earn the reputation I have always desired in my village. I will use the balance to cater for my grandchildren's school fees. Lack of school fees has made them miss classes at school and this will in the end affect their academic performance.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. After spending the whole day in the forest cutting firewood, I use the evening hours to take a rest and this makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is doing hard casual jobs to survive, jobs which are not health friendly to a woman of my age. Sometimes I spend the whole day in the forest cutting firewood for sale. This has made me weak and I fall sick easily.
