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 ($525 USD)
access_time almost 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 different from how it would have been had I never received the transfers because I have been able to build a spacious house for my family. The transfers enabled me to build a two-room house which J consider it more spacious compared to one room house that I had before. Due to this, we all enjoy our privacy and one can even take a nap during the day without any disturbances.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GD helped us transform our lives in different ways by giving us unconditional cash transfers and I belief that this is what they did best as it also makes them stand out from other organizations.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I built a chicken coop using part of my second transfer as a way of starting a poultry keeping project. I will be selling eggs at our neighboring market and we will also be using some of it at times as a substitute for vegetables. Also, I bought some timber and iron sheets to use in building a kitchen for my family. I used the remaining amount to pay for my medical bill and to buy food and clothes for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built a better house for my family. I depend on the casual jobs in the village and the money that I get was only enough for the basic needs. My children used to spend nights at the neighbor's house. This was so risking for them because of the movement at night and also they had no time to do their homework, this was affecting their performance in school. Currently, I have a better house for my family. My children have a good place to sleep and they can do their assignment on time. I no longer shy away to welcome visitors to my house because I have a decent house to host them all. I am so happy for the support it has changed our living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I realized I had received money from GiveDirectly. It was very early in the morning when I heard an incoming message notification on my phone and I went ahead to check. I felt so happy because I had never received such an amount of money before. I knew I would be able to build a better and spacious house for my family. I shared the news with my spouse and children and they were so happy too.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I built a better and spacious house for my family, We lived in a small house which cannot host all my family members comfortably, I also bought food for the family and the rest of the money I used it to buy to buy a goat.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me buy a donkey for transporting water during drought since we usually walk for a long distance to fetch water during dry seasons. Buying a sewing machine is part of my plans since i have skills in tailoring and the machine i had no longer works hence this will help me resume back to work.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day since its the time to feed my cattle to ensure surplus milk production for my family consumption as well as some for sale to earn a living at the end of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Poor harvests due to drought as well as crop pests and diseases has been a great challenge to me in that subsistence farming used to be my greatest source of income but for now the yields are too low and whatever i harvest is only left for family consumption.
