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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($510 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?
My life is different than it would have been if I had never received the transfer in that we are now living a better life. With the help of the aid I was able to construct a decent shelter and purchased proper beddings. I have never slept on proper beddings in my life, rags is what I have been using for all those years. In addition, I saved some amount which will assist me in plastering my house and cater for any emergency that I may face in the future. Lastly, I was able to acquire warm clothes which protect us from the cold weather.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I thank GiveDiretly for the cash transfer which has transformed our lives for the better in a very short period of time. I depend on peasant farming, getting money for other needs was a big challenge for me. With the help of the transfer I was able to meet the needs without struggling.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $150 to purchase iron sheet, timber and to pay labour charges for the construction of a roof of my kitchen I had constructed it but I lack the capital to complete the roofing. I also purchased a bed and mattress for $130 since we had been using old rags as beddings which was not comfortable. In addition, I used $100 to purchase a decent door for my house now my property are more secured than before. Lastly, spent $100 to buy 12 bags of cement which I am planning to use them in plastering the house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember receiving a message on my phone early in the morning. I called for my helper because I could not comprehend the contents of this message. When he read through it, I saw him smiling at my phone before disclosing the good news that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I could not contain the joy that I felt. I thanked GiveDirectly for the financial help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am grateful to GiveDirectly because I now have comfortable beddings to sleep on. I was previously sleeping on the on a soiled floor, using rags of used old clothes and tattered mats. I was unable to replace them due lack of money. I managed to buy a new bed and a mattress through this transfer. Having a good place to sleep is the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly came to us, I did not have a bed and a mattress. I was sleeping on the dusty and grimy floor using old rags of used and old mats. When I received my first transfer, I took KES 14000 and purchased a new bed and a mattress to replace the old beddings. In addition to this I also bought a new metallic door and fixed on my house. I also saved part of the transfer for my children's school fees. I am planning to spend the remaining amount to buy a solar panel for lighting my household. Also, it will be convenient for my children to study.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In my life, sleeping on a wooden bed plus a mattress has been a luxury and I have always spent my nights on the floor using rugged sacks. Receiving this money means changing my status quo since my plan is to spend 15000 shillings to buy the mattress, bed, and other beddings something that will guarantee me a peaceful sleep and eventually a healthy life. On the other hand, I plan to buy poles to repair the roof of my house because as of now, my house looks new from the outside but in case of windy, the roof can be blown away since the nails are loosened from the poles. Having done this, my life would have changed to a standard that I have long wished.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a land preparation season, my day looks busy with household chores in the morning and the better part of my afternoon hours working on the farm. It is only in the evening when I can get ample time to relax and have time with my family members. The talks and sharing of our meals gives me the feeling of happiness and this makes my evening being the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Subsistence farming is what I have been depending on for my survival but this has been unreliable since the rain patterns in our area are not predictable. In most cases, my harvests are always low usually 1 bag which sustains us only for 2 months. Therefore, food insecurity is basically the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.
