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
53150 KES ($489 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?
Being the rightful owner of a piece of land that I can start developing is a great feeling to me. I had been living in my parents' land, and as a single mother, it was so hard for me to raise such a huge amount at once to pay for a piece of land. I am grateful GiveDirectly made this possible, and I will soon be constructing a new house so that I can move out of my parent's piece of land.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The decision made by GiveDirectly to work in our village was a great favor to us. Everything done in my opinion was perfect, and even those who missed it because of the reasons known to them still appreciate the great work that is currently ongoing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the second transfer, I spent 35000KES on the completion of payment for the piece of land. I also bought a roll of barbed wire and fencing poles to fence the initial piece of land I had. I also equipped my child with a new pair of school uniforms and shoes since he has been putting on old pairs for such a long time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($511 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Confirmation of the receipt of the transfer was one happiest moments in my life. It was really hard before to believe that the promise we received during enrollment was soon coming to pass. Even though everyone was laying down plans and assuring each other that they will soon be making a difference with the transfer, I could not be fully convinced till I saw it landing in my account. Since then I had been happy and praying hard that other people who are still expecting theirs may soon be visited.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Paying the first installment on the small piece of land has been a great step in my move to owning a home. This has allowed me to start developing it since I have started planting trees around the piece. I am glad that I am soon becoming the legitimate owner so that I can start the construction. With the few steps I have so far taken, I am already feeling the impact in my life as it is the biggest achievement I am making in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It was a great coincidence that I received the transfer when I had just gotten a piece of land being auctioned in my neighborhood. I managed to secure a fifth of an acre which was going for 70000KES. I had to make a direct transfer of all the money I had received to the owner with a promise to complete the remaining amount when I receive the second transfer. Having been living in my parents' piece of land with my children, I had been playing for a breakthrough so that I can move to my own piece. As a single mother, this has been hard even though I have tried putting aside some money but all the savings I ever made have been serving other emergencies making me start again.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a lot to me because I am currently living in a small house in my parents compound. I live with my 16 year old son in a small shanty house where our kitchen and bedroom are separated by a clothing. At his age he needs privacy and also since place is small, most of my work documents get ruined by smoke whenever we cook. When I receive the transfer I will buy a piece of land and build a bigger house to live in comfortably.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Each working day I wake up at 6 in the morning, prepare my son for school and take breakfast. I then leave for work by 7, I work as an early childhood education teacher at a near by school, where I spend most of my day. During the day is when I am happiest because I get to teach, interact with my students and get to learn from them as well. I am happy during this time because I know my work impacts positively on their lives. I also hold story time each day before lunch time where all students get to share stories in their respective villages and I get to encourage and counsel some of them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life is not being able to have my own land and home. I had my child while at my parents house and when I got married and separated I returned home. In my culture there us stigma for women who go back to their parents homes when things in marriage do not work out. My brothers talk about me on my back and that makes me feel that I do not belong here. I also had a medical issue a few years a go, where I was diagnosed with goitre/ thyroid and I had to be operated, this impacted negatively on my livelihood because I was willing often and could not attend to my duties. Thank God I have now healed.
