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 ($348 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the $25480 to purchase 26 silver iron sheets at Matonomane which I used to build 2- bedroom house that my family had always wish to have since I have been living in a 1- bedroom house with all my children there .This is because of over- dependency on my husband who was working in Kilifi as a watchman and paid $80 monthly ,which could not sustain the family and give them a decent house that gives the parents and the children their privacy.I finished constructing the roof of the new house last week but the doors and windows have not yet been installed .My children are over excited over the new house that they have pleaded with me to shift to the new house despite that it does have doors nor window yet.I also paid school fees of $60 for my 2 class 8 sons who had a big debt that I was not sure on how I was going to settle it , but special thanks to Give Directly who has given me the support.lastly I bought 2 goats that I have kept them as a constant reminder of Give Directly .
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The organisation has polite and disciplined field officer
There is nothing that i think they can change
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Start a grocery business ,that I will be selling some fruits and vegetables which will generate income that will help me fund my children education.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($375 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the cash transfer from GiveDirectly, my life took a remarkable turn. I decided to prioritize building a new house for my family. Our old house was small, made of mud walls, and not very sturdy. I wanted a safer and more permanent shelter for my loved ones. With the initial funds, I started constructing the new house using interlocking blocks. It wasn't easy, but the sense of progress is incredible. The perimeter of the house is now complete, and I'm eagerly waiting to gather a bit more money to put the roof on. So far, I've spent $350 on the house, and despite it being unfinished, I can't help but feel grateful to GiveDirectly for helping me come this far. Without its support, this wonderful journey towards a better home wouldn't have been possible.
But my responsibilities didn't stop there. I used $100 of the cash transfer to pay the school fees for my three children. They had been forced to leave school due to unpaid fees, and I couldn't bear to see their dreams put on hold. It felt amazing to see them back in their classrooms, eager to learn. With the remaining amount, I made sure we had enough food on the table. This extra money gave us the stability and security we desperately needed, and for that, I'm truly grateful to GiveDirectly for changing our lives for the better.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to do odd jobs to help my husband, who works as a security guard, make ends meet for our family because his income was barely enough. It was exhausting and often left us struggling to put food on the table. But everything changed when we received a cash transfer from GiveDirectly. Now, I can take a break from those backbreaking tasks. We no longer have to worry about going hungry, and we can afford necessities without the constant stress. This support has truly transformed our lives for the better, providing us with the security and peace of mind we never thought possible.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a text message on my phone at around 3 p.m. while resting at home after a long day of work on the farm. I asked my helper to read it for me, as I am illiterate. He confirmed that I had received the promised money from GiveDirectly. My heart swelled with joy and happiness because I knew the hardships I had been going through would finally start to ease. I knew that this money would make a real difference in my life, and for the first time in a long while, I felt a glimmer of hope for a better future.
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
What is the happiest part of your day?
I do subsistence farming as my job. However , the community has been under drought for three years. On April 2023, We received heavy rains and started farming. The maize crops is doing well and I am looking forward to have a good harvest. This brings happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of reliable income is the challenge I am currently facing. My husband is a casual work at Kilifi earning approximately $80 per month and I am just a house wife with no income. My husband income caters for food and school fees and it is not enough. My two children are schooling at Dida primary and they have a collective balance of $35. This has made them miss class for a week.
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a family of five members and we all live in a one room house which is not spacious for the family. It also lacks privacy since the boys are now grown up. The first born son sometimes seeks shelter from neighbors and this lowers my status in the community. My husband does casual jobs earning $80 per month which caters for food and school fees. I do subsistence farming with no any source of income. The family lacks the capacity to build a spacious house due to financial constraints. I will use $700 to build a two room house for the family and let the current one be used by the first born son . I will also use $ 400 to buy ten goats as an investment. This will help me pay school fees for my two sons once they join secondary school next year.