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 ($534 USD)
access_time 5 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 now different in that I now have a better house and I also own cattle and goats. I also have a comfortable bed now.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly has done well in giving us money. I now have what I lacked before and what I could not be able to afford on my own. I built a better house and I also own livestock.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to purchase a bed and mattress, and also to purchase two goats and a cow. I bought these livestock with the hope that they will procreate and generate wealth for me in future. Once they procreate, I can sell either for them in case of an emergency in future. I also lacked a bed. I used to sleep on a mat on the floor. I now have a comfortable bed and a mattress, and I also bought my wife a bed and a mattress. I am unemployed and my wife does casual farm jobs for some pay. We now own cattle and we were also able to build a house. I am grateful to Give Directly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Previously I was living in a house that was in a bad state and because I had no money to renovate it, It was swept away by rains, leaving me and my family without a home, and my hopes of building a new house ended that day. From then, I would seek accommodation from my neighbors who were willing to help, me and my family. Thanks to GiveDirectly since at this time, I am in my own house living happily with my family. Owning a house is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the message notification in the morning as I was planning on what I would accomplish during that day, and upon reading it, I confirmed that I had received such a large sum of money for the first time in my life. At that instant, I was overwhelmed with happiness and my heart was filled with peace and freedom from the troubles that I had gone through. I felt thankful to God and to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer to buy iron sheets and other building materials to construct a new house since the old one I used to live had collapsed one night because it was not stable enough to withstand heavy rains. It nearly fell on us that night and from that time then, it posed great danger for anyone to live in it. So from that time, my family has been seeking shelter from neighbours who were willing to accommodate us. However, since GiveDirectly came to our village and offered us the transfers, building a home was the first decision I made and right now, I am in my own house with my family. The transfer has changed my life which I never hoped such a thing to happen. I also spent part of the remaining amount to buy food for my family because sometimes we would skip a meal since I did not have enough money to provide for my family adequately. I am planning to spend the remaining amount to buy a cow to keep in my compound which will later reproduce and retain as an asset to me.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
As a skilled house builder, my desire has always been to master my acts and be able to get noticed not only within the village but even outside. But with the tough economical situations in our area, getting even a single contract is almost impossible; people are used to traditional village setup kind of houses. Now that people are going to receive GD transfers, most people are going change their lives in one way or the other, and building new structures is one of them. Overall,I foresee job opportunities coming through and this translates to sustainable income to my family.Going forward, I will no longer struggle to get contracts out there.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. It is at this moment that one can engage in any rigorous activity with ease. In most instances, my day begins at half past five in the morning, and I enjoy being in the farm at this hour. Unlike the rest of the day, when temperatures are higher, morning is always the perfect time to engage in income generating activities.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of sustainable source of income has been the biggest hardship in my life. My wife Sidi has been struggling with haemorrhoids for over a decade now and because I couldn't raise the required money for treatment, she has suffered stigmatization, mental instability and most instances cannot engage in any meaningful economical activity. With the nature of the disease, she is required to have a proper nutritional plan, but again I couldn't provide that for her. Now that the situation has turned worst, I feel sorry for her and in most cases take the blame. Had I done enough for her in time, she could be in good health at moment.
