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
53010 KES ($392 USD)
access_time almost 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, I do still have a goal. I didn't achieve my goal after using the second transfer, and I'm hoping to do so once I have some money. My first objective was to transform my run-down house from a mud-walled one to one with block walls. I am confident that I will be able to renovate it with the few savings I have from my business of producing and selling charcoal because I already have all the necessary materials.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is categorized as a life transformation organization since it helped us transition from a condition of subsistence living to one of independence through the cash transfer program it brought. So far, I haven't noticed anything bad about the organization. I suggest continuing to act like what it did for us in the new locations it is relocating to, so that our allies on that side may also profit.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My two secondary school-aged sons' outstanding $180 in school fees needed to be paid as soon as I got the second transfer. They are content right now because they are now settled and focusing on their schoolwork. After that, I decided to renovate my mud-walled house into a block-walled one. I made this choice because I wanted a permanent dwelling for security reasons and since the house I had was not just about to collapse. I spent $200 on some construction supplies, including cement and building bricks, to accomplish this. The materials cost me $300 in total, so I decided to keep them rather than start the remodeling because it might put a strain on my finances. I stocked up on food for my family using the remaining funds.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($443 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was relaxing at home when I received a Mpesa text from GiveDirectly indicating that I had received money from them. Words cannot express how delighted my wife and I were. This is because we knew we would be able to reach our goal sooner. My wife and I are grateful for the help that has given us hope for a better tomorrow.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Replacing the roof of my house is the biggest difference in my life. We will no longer be required to relocate during the rainy season. We are so happy that our lives have been impacted greatly within a short period.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving our initial transfer, my wife and I decided to replace our house's roof, which was in poor condition. The roof was outdated and leaking. We were unable to remove it previously due to our unstable income and our children's school fees responsibilities. My wife and I rely on farming for a living, and together we are blessed with six children. Which is unreliable due to the climate in our area. As a result, we spent $400 on renovating it. Secondly, we used the remaining funds to buy groceries. We will be eternally grateful to the organization for dramatically raising our standard of living.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have many priorities to deal with using this money but a decent house and oxen top the list. Enjoying my nights means having a better environment and this compels me to ensure I own a worthy house for my family. To offset this menace, I intend to spend my first transfer ($540) to construct a house that I will boast about. A house that will change my life from the current status quo. With the remaining transfer, I will buy oxen and an ox plough to help me in expanding my farming to have food security for the household. This is the life that I have admired for a long and I am pretty sure, this will come to materialize. Therefore, this is generally what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In April 2022, my son had a wedding, a ceremony that brought together many friends at home. This was a happy moment for me because I never imagined my compound could one day host such a congregation. We ate a lot of delicacies which we had missed for a long time. In addition to this, the groom recently got a job as an electrician something that doubled my joy as a parent. How proud I am as his father!
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints remain at the top of my list of problems. Being jobless at the moment means failing to meet most of my family's basic needs, a situation that has robbed away my joy as a father. Despite struggling to support my children in school, I have on the other hand failed to provide better housing for ourselves. This means our security and health are at stake because my house is collapsing from behind and it's just braving the strong wind. What a life to worry about!
