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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($468 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
No. I don't have any new goals after accomplishing the goals that I had, Through the transfer, I was able to construct a two-roomed decent house for my family. This is because my house was grass-thatched and leaks during the rainy season. I am currently living in a good house something that has installed happiness in my life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in enrolling the households in the village without favor or discrimination. Every household that qualified according to the criteria was enrolled. I don't see anything that it does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 22,000 of my transfer to purchase modern beddings for my family, I bought two beds and two mattresses. One for myself and the other one for my children. Previously, we were using the traditional threads bed which requires constant maintenance. I also bought 2 goats for KES 7000 a long-term investment for my family. In addition, I used KES 10,000 to educate my 3 children in a private school. The remaining assisted me to cater for our daily needs like water and food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was sweeping my compound at around 9am when my phone rang in the house. I hurriedly went to confirm since it was one of the days we were told to expect the transfers from GiveDirectly. My eyes stuck on the phone staring at the message after seeing that GiveDirectly have honored their words. I felt so happy knowing that the things I referred them impossible due to lack of funds were going to be possible.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My husband has been hustling for a while since he doesn’t have a stable job. His main source of income comes from making and selling charcoal which is no longer promising due to shortage of the trees to be made charcoal. That is the main reason we were not able to even repair our house till GiveDirectly came and we decided to build a new house. The biggest difference is that where we were unable, GiveDirectly enabled us. We are now happily living in the new incomplete house but comparing it and the old one then we term it a complete house since its better by several percentages in comparison.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the money, my priority was on constructing a house. This was because the initial house was leaking and in the verge of collapsing thus I constructed a 2 roomed-house with a sitting room. I bought 20 pieces of iron sheets for KES 19000.00, poles for KES 7000.00, rafters for KES 5000.00 and also I bought ridges, nails and some ropes whose value I cannot clearly recall till I go for the receipts. I spared the remaining amount for the family upkeep but once I receive the second transfer I will complete the house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am married to my lovely husband, who works in Mombasa as a masonry. Together, we have four children, three whom are in school. With the little earnings he makes from his job, we consolidate it with what I get as a subsistence farmer to feed ourselves and as well pay for our children's school fees. Since the income is not peanut, it has been difficult for us to save enough inorder to build a dignified house. Our house is leaking whenever it heavily rains, and also it is not spacious as it is one-roomed. So, with our growing children, we lack privacy as parents. This force us to send our children to their grandparents' house to borrow sleep whenever my husband comes home for a weekend. It's something that is disheartening and I usually feel ashamed for this. So, receiving this money means building a spacious house for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the evening is the happiest part of my day. It is at this moment that I am with my children, I see them doing their homework even though I do not understand since I am illiterate. This gives me hope that they are doing the right thing in school.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My father died at my early age when I had not started school. Being the second born in my family, I was obliged to look for small jobs in Mombasa town to fend for my dear mother who was unemployed. I found myself unable to go to school, and this has made me illiterate. However, I have always have the urge to ensure my children do not undergo similar challenge of not going to school. I have always have a dream to ensure my children continually go to school inorder to achieve their academic goals for I believe Education is the key to good life. My husband is unluckily not permanently employed and so, raising my children through school has been a real challenge. They are usually sent home for fees and this really disappoints my desire and dream of seeing my children comfortably get education. Having not gone to school and being unable to smoothly take my children to school is the biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life.
