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 ($517 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was initially living in a grass thatched house for long time without any succes of building a new house. My dream was one day to build an iron roofed house. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me achieve my dream. I am now sheltering in a decent iron roofed house, courtesy of GiveDirectly. I also have some goats that I am keeping. I am expecting them to reproduce and increase in number. Through them, I will be able to educate my children who are still young.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done well in enrolling us who were in needy due to poverty. We have now been able to educate our children, build new iron roofed houses and also owning livestock as assets to us. This in my opinion has raised our living standards. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the transfer on paying school fees for my children for them to continue with their studies. In addition to this, I also bought some goats which I am keeping in my homestead. I can readily depend on them in case of a financial problem. I spent the remaining money to buy foodstuffs and paying for other household expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Through the transfer, I managed to buy enough materials so that I build a new spacious and decent house. I have hopes that very soon I will be moving into my new house upon completion which counts as the greatest achievement. Having a new decent house to me is the biggest difference in my life. It cannot be taken for granted for I had none but now I will have somewhere to shelter.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken up by a message notification early in the morning, and on checking to confirm, it was from GiveDirectly informing me that that I had received my first transfer. I was instantly filled with happiness on realizing this since I had been waiting for it anxiously. I thanked the organization for financial help.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
On receiving my first transfer, I spent it on buying building materials which include iron sheets and building poles. The house that I was previously living in was grass-thatched and in a bad condition, unfavourable for the human to live in. I had to live in it anyway, as I work towards building a new one. I am grateful to GiveDirectly because through financial support, I am planning to build a new spacious, iron-roofed decent house. I also paid for my children's school fees so that they can be allowed back to school as well as buying new school uniforms for them. I am spending the remaining amount of money to meet basic needs and other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house collapsed two years ago and since then I have not been able to build a new one. My family lives under a structure that almost resembles a chicken pen. To make it worse, it cannot accommodate the eight of us forcing my eldest daughter to spend her nights at a neighbour's house. This has reduced us to the laughing stock in the village, as people keep on insulting us and branding my husband to be a very irresponsible man. As if this is not enough, the structure has no door thus threatening our security. I get into endless fights with my neighbours because their goats keep on pouring my flour and water, commodities that are currently very expensive to afford. Besides, my children's health has really been affected and they all suffer from persistent dry cough which is as a result of inhaling too much dust. GiveDirectly has come as a savior who will restore our dignity because I will construct a bigger and better house for my family. In addition to this, l will start a small business and quit my charcoal job which is labor intensive.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Spending the whole day in the bushes cutting trees to burn charcoal needs a soothing place to relax. Instead of being happy in the evening that I am going to rest, it hurts me more because I do not have a place for that. I prefer my morning hours when I am busy with my casual duties that make me free from stress.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I spend a lot of money seeking medical care for my family. My children get frequent cold attacks, a condition that has never received longterm treatment. This means I cannot advance financially because there is no extra money for savings. I am straining too much to provide other needs like food, education and clothing. This is because I lack a stable source of income to cater for all these and I can say financial constraint is my biggest hardship.
