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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 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 than it would have never received the transfer in that I was able to relocate and construct a decent house for myself in my piece of land. At the moment, I am living a happy life after fulfilling my heart's desires. Furthermore, I was able to pay school fees for my child who is in college. Nowadays, she is learning without being sent home due to a fee problems. Lastly, I was able to start livestock rearing by acquiring goats a reliable source of livelihood for the family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in helping the poor households in my village. I thank the organization for the aid which has helped me realize my dream of constructing a new house, Something that I couldn't have achieved easily without the assistance.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to purchase 7 iron sheets for Ksh.7,500, an iron door for Ksh.8,000. This was for the completion of the construction of a new house for myself. I had acquired a piece of land but I lacked enough money to relocated and construct a house. Similarly, I constructed a separate small house for the kitchen. In addition, I used Ksh.10,000 to pay college fees for my daughter who is taking a beauty and therapy course. Lastly, I bought one goat with the remaining amount.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at the farm early in the morning when I heard a message come into my phone. My daughter checked for me my phone and informed me that it was the Mpesa message for the transfers. I was very very happy. Our house is collapsing and we had nowhere else to get any money to build another house. I was very happy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that we can now build a better house. Our current house is small and it is on the verge of collapsing. We begun building a new house and we are now assured of a home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to build a house for my family. I am a housewife and I have five children. My husband herds cattle for pay and he earns quite little that can only buy meals for us. Our house was almost collapsing and we would soon have no place to call home. I was very happy when I received the transfers as I knew that we could now build a bigger and better house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I returned to my maternal home with my husband since the year 1997, due to some strange illness that we believed was caused by witchcraft. We built a very small house that couldn't accommodate us anymore, when the family expanded and we have been living in my brother's house for the past three years. My ambition has been to own a home instead of living in my parents homestead which is against our culture. In regard to this, I had already purchased land but I could not build due to lack of finances. Receiving this money therefore means, I will achieve my dream. I will construct a bigger house and relocate my family to save them the agony of being termed as squatters.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am interacting with my family. This is because my day is packed with farm work as well as helping my husband with charcoal burning. It is only in the evening when we get to sit and talk about our future.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability is my biggest hardship. This is because my husband lost his herding job when schools closed due to COVID-19. My daughter who could have been of help, lost her job as a house help too after the pandemic. My health situation does not allow me to engage in any casual labour because of the constant chest pains. My husband now relys on charcoal burning business to feed a family of 8. The much he gets is around 2000 shillings a month an amount that is not sufficient.
