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?
Both first and second transfer has transformed my life completely and I thank Give directly for the commendable work they did in my village. I do not have any new goal other than working on the projects which were pending after receipt of my first transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly does well by giving out unconditional cash transfer to the poverty alleviated individuals in the society.In the other hand,I do not have any complain since all we had been informed during baraza was effected.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the second transfer,I used Ksh.29,500 on buying materials which I used to cement the house that was newly constructed.I am happy that the house is almost complete and we are soon going to move in.In addition,I also used Ksh, 3,700 in purchasing a barbed wire which I used in partitioning my farm into paddocks so that my livestock can graze freely.I also used Kshs 5,000 in tithing.With the remaining amount, I used in buying other household items.I am so grateful to Givedirectly for the immense support which I would never receive from anyone.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in the small garden outdoor with my spouse that morning when I received a message from GievDirectly. We were both excited as we had been praying for that moment as we had quite a lot to try accomplishing with the amount. We thanked God and decided to still wait for some days before withdrawing as we knew that the traffic to the nearby Mpesa shops was so heavy that day. We had all plans in place and we knew that the money will be safe in my account to the withdrawal day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life after receiving the first transfer is the availability of clean water from the tap. Buying a large water-holding facility is a great step for me as this reduces the frequency of visiting the river and also will be useful during dry seasons as I will not be using the dirty water from the river. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support that has seen me and my household's living standards improve.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving our first transfer, it was a household decision to tithe KES10000 at the church. I also spent KES22000 of the first transfer in obtaining a large water tank with enough gutters to fix around our roof. We had been suffering a lot during dry seasons as the only river we had been depending on gets dirty at the onset of droughts since livestock are also dependent on the same water source. I also obtained bedding to replace the old ones we had been sleeping on and I am glad that I can sleep well at the moment without feeling any pain in my back due to the discomfort of the hard sleeping surface I had been sleeping on. With the remaining amount, I managed to clear all the debts I had in school and paid forward for my daughter who is currently in a polytechnic. I am glad to see all the great changes I had been able to make over such a short period, and this would not have been possible without GiveDirectly coming in to support us.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We experience a long period of drought in this area and getting water has been a challenge for us. This money will enable me to achieve my dream of owning a 3000-liter water tank. This will cost approximately KES 28000 for the tank. I shall collect water from these roofs and hence reducing the burden for my wife going to fetch water over along distance. My house also looks old and I usually feel a bit shy when visitors are around. With these grants, I shall use KES 50000 to renovate this house and KES 25000 for furnishings. The remaining amount I shall use to buy food. we spend at least a thousand shillings per week at Chebunyo market to buy twenty kilograms of maize and six cabbages to sustain us for the whole week.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day because I have another chance to look for a casual job within the village in order to feed my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Hunger is the biggest hardship we have faced in life. The only food crops that do well in this area are sweet potatoes. During the off-season for sweet potatoes, we depend on purchased foods from Chebunyo market. I retired as a painter at Unilever Company in the year 2012. I spent all my savings on educating my children and bought this posho mill which has stopped working for a long time due to low maize yields in this region. We have to struggle so much doing manual jobs such as brick making, collection of sand, and paint to put the meals on the table. we sometimes take two meals a day but mostly one meal, especially in the evening due to inadequate finances to but food.
