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
53150 KES ($528 USD)
access_time over 4 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 in that whereas I have been eating food, I have only been eating a small variety of food. Using the transfers, I was able to buy the foods that always yearned for. But could not buy for lack of money. We also have a challenge in our locality that whenever it rains, our houses starts flooding from the underground water. I am currently waiting for the rains to subside and the roads passable so as to transport materials such as sand and cement to plaster my floor. This will do away with the problem, I am excited that my house will soon be cemented. This will reduce the effort used to maintain a mud flour since a cemented flour is easier to clean.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I liked the fact that we were given cash so that each one of us will decide what to do with their money in their own individual households. I was satisfied how the project was done.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I saved some amount of the second transfer in preparation to plaster the floor of my house. I spent the rest on it to buy food and other household items.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the home improvement that I have made. The house that I was living in was so small and made of mud and would often get so dusty affecting my comfort in my home. With old age, I am so prone to viral diseases such as common cold and I saw the need to sleep in a more clean and an easy to maintain space. The improvement is not yet complete but I am optimistic that once complete, the building will provide the comfort which I so much need.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. It was very early in the morning when my son told me that I had received a sum of KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy learning that my dream of having a better house shall come to pass. I started planning on how I was going to spend the money to reap maximum benefits.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I used all of my transfer to buy building materials to improve my house. I have all along been living in a mud walled house and when I received this transfer, I saw it as an opportune moment to improve my house by cementing the floor and improving the walls as well. I have since bought the materials and I am waiting for the second transfer to be able to complete the house. I am so happy for the transfers that I received and will always be indebted.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me build a new kitchen.I live alone with my spouse and at my age I no longer have the strength to swear my mud-walled hut.It is also a bit far from the main house and at night and during rainy seasons it is a bit difficult for me to operate between the two houses.I would wish to build another one closer to the main house.I also intend to renew my poultry house because the current one is quite old.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning.Due to my age,I am no longer able to do most of the work.Therefore every morning,I make visits to my children's households to check on them.Seeing them happy and being able to interract with my grand children makes me very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I normally plant maize in my 2 acre piece of land.Most of these work is is mostly done by casual labourers since I am no longer able to work in the farm.I am therefore forced to incur expenses.For some years now,we have not had a maize harvest due to prolonged drought periods as well as a prevailing maize crop disease.In those years it has been losses after losses which has strained me a lot considering that I only depend on an income from sale of milk.This is the biggest hardship I have faced.
