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 ($363 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Thanks to the transfer, I was able to build a house made of mud bricks with an iron roof. This marked a significant improvement in my living conditions, especially since I had been residing in a grass-thatched hut for many years with little hope of upgrading my housing situation. My current aspiration is to further enhance the durability and permanence of this house. To achieve this, I am in the process of planning to purchase bags of cement and sand to undertake renovations in the coming year and beyond.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I believe that GiveDirectly did an excellent job in educating us about how the transfers could truly be a life-changing opportunity. The fact that the transfers came with no conditions gave us the freedom to use the money for our individual needs. The entire process was well-executed, and I can't find any faults in it. However, I still harbor the hope that if there were more opportunities for additional transfers, it would greatly benefit us and allow us to continue making positive improvements in our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my most recent transfers to complete the construction of my house, which I had initially started with my first transfer. I had been living in a grass-thatched hut, and my lifelong dream was to have a comfortable house with an iron roof. The grass-thatched hut was constantly leaking, requiring me to replace the grass roof regularly, which was not only tiring but also impractical due to its small size. Thanks to the recent transfer, I was able to purchase iron sheets, and timber, and pay for labour to fulfil my dream. I am profoundly grateful to GiveDirectly for transforming my life; I now have a sturdy and decent house to call home. With the remaining funds, I invested $200 in buying a cow, which I am currently raising. This cow will soon provide me with a source of income through milk sales. Additionally, it serves as an asset because I can breed it and sell the offspring if I ever encounter a financial need. Furthermore, I used part of the funds to ensure that my family never went hungry by purchasing food supplies. GiveDirectly's support has made a significant difference in my life, and I can't express my gratitude enough
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was relaxing on the bed since was not feeling well, suffering from malaria coupled with Tuberculosis. I had taken the antidote and was in the bed resting. It was around 3 pm when the phone rang, I was with my grandchild who checked and realized that I had received the transfer. I felt extremely happy and relieved for receiving the transfer because all our neighbors had received the aid except me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in life is that, currently, I am able to get food without much difficulty. Before, I was forced to stay without food for 2 days a week something that worsen my health problems. Furthermore, owning some livestock as an alternative source of livelihood is a great investment that would support me in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $300 of the recent transfer to start livestock rearing by purchasing one cow and two goats. Being old, sick, and unable to engage in any casual labor. This will be a reliable source of income that would support my life. Previously, I was relying on charcoal burning a job that requires a lot of energy and strength to do. Furthermore, used $100 to repair my kitchen which had collapsed, and was forced to resort to cooking outside. Most of the time our food would be contaminated with sand and used more firewood to cook due to the blowing winds. I saved the remaining amount to support acquiring food because of the health problem which makes it impossible for me to work.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In my life, 78 years now, I have never spent my night on a mattress. This has pushed me to the need of having my first modern bed and a mattress, to give a change to the current status quo of my life. When I heard about GiveDirectly in our village, I was so certain that my desire will come to reality because I intend to spend a portion of my first transfer, 20000 KES to ensure this need is offset. This will provide me with the opportunity to replace the old bedding and hence, enjoy my life. On the other hand, I will spend the remaining amount on livestock and, also to meet other basic needs like food and new clothes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite the many challenges that I am facing in my life, I am quite grateful to God for the good health that I have enjoyed over the last 6 months. Seeing myself healthy and able to perform my daily work gives me a feeling of happiness. Thus, I consider this as what has brought joy to my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
People of my age (78 years) in our village are usually resting to wait for their sons and daughters to bring them some food. This is not the case for me because I do not have any immediate child to depend on, something that has pushed me to engage in charcoal work as my source of income despite being less energetic. In most cases, I suffer from body pain and the painful thing is that I never get any serious medication apart from buying some painkillers from the local kiosks. I, therefore, consider financial instability being the main challenge that I am currently struggling with most.