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 ($475 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to be able to take my children through their education and make their lives better in future. I have six children and four of them are in their secondary and tertiary education. All of them look up to me since their father is sick and incapacitated to help me in paying their school fees or raising any money for that matter. I plan to use proceeds from the livestock that I bought to be able to do this. I was already feeling overwhelmed by this task but I am grateful that GiveDirectly gave me a helping hand and can be able to rise up again and be able to do it for them.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well by giving us the money unconditionally. The money came at a time that I felt i needed it the most and Ii feel so much indebted because of this. I look forward to seeing GiveDirectly expand even the more.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the money to buy a lactating cow and a heifer worth Kes 50000 and used the remaining amount to pay school fees for my son who is in secondary school. I am a mother of six and all my children look up to me to meet their needs including payment of school fees since their father fell sick sometime back and has not been in a position to work and help me oit. Life has not been easy since I entirely depend on casual work to help raise money for such needs. I am however grateful that GiveDirectly came in handy and helped me out. I look forward to seeing my children have a smooth time back in school.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had gone for a meeting in my neighborhood as our norm.It was about 10a.m when my I received a notification message and when I checked, it was a confirmation message of receipt of transfer from Givedirectly.I was excited and left immediately to withdraw the funds since I was ready to initiate the plans I had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the completion of a newly constructed house.It had been a challenge since I use to stay in someone's house which couldn't accommodate my entire family members.I thank Givedirectly for making my dream of owning a house come through.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the first transfer,I immediately went and cleared school fees for my two children who are in school.I spent Kshs.15,000 in clearing all the arrears they had.My children had been in and out of school but I am happy now they can now study peacefully without being sent home.I also spent Kshs.20,000 in construction of a house since the one we had was a bit small and couldn't accommodate my entire family.I am so happy that it is completed.With Ksh.3,000 I bought furniture to furnish my new constructed house since we had old furniture which were worn out.I saved Ksh.10,000 to cater for daily foodstuff expenditure and with the remaining amount I used to buy clothing for my household members.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I currently rear a cow that was given to me on loan by a neighbor who recently relocated to the city and I owe her KES 35000. Receiving this money will therefore enable me to clear the debt. My kitchen collapsed a year ago as a result of heavy downpours. Since then, I cook in the main house which is one-roomed, serving as kitchen, sitting room as well as a bedroom for my four children, my spouse and I. I will therefore use KES 30000 to build a spacious two-roomed house; one room for my children and the other will serve as our kitchen.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I developed spinal cord damages 3 years ago, a situation which worsened this year, leading to limb paralysis and severe back pains. This went to an extend that I was bedridden for 3 months. I had lost all my hopes of getting back to normal and I felt helpless all through. However, my extended family came in handy in the month of may and contributed the amount needed for my surgery at Tenwek hospital and my recovery was a miracle. I was able to walk again and even though I'm still in recovery mode, I'm grateful that I can at least engage in less strenuous casual jobs to fend for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a sustainable source of income is the genesis of all the challenges I currently face. I engage in casual jobs of tilling people's farms for pay. It has never been a guarantee to get such jobs, since this is a remote area where people prefer to work on their farms rather than employing someone to work for them, due to financial reasons. I have six school-going children and I always schedule fundraising meetings to support their education since my daily KES 150 wage is only enough to buy food for the family
