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 ($465 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am grateful for what I was able to achieve and currently, I do not have any one goal in mind. The fact that I was able to buy goats has been my long dream and I am happy that for now, I have the assets that I can depend on in case of anything. I am certain that the goats will be of help especially in paying fees for my kids because I will be selling one or two to sort out the arrears timely.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, all went well in the entire village since no one could afford to complain in any way. In all the stages, there was no discrimination regardless of our religion religious differences, or tribes. Therefore no one was left out provided they were the residents of the particular villages. In other words, I do not see any sector that GiveDirectly needs to change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying six goats KES 18000. For over ten years, I have been dreaming of owning them but I couldn't afford them because they were very expensive and I had some other household expenses to cater to. I however settled for them because they reproduce and mature very fast as compared to the other domestic animals. I am therefore hopeful that soon I will have many of them within a short period. I also bought a new bed and a high-density mattress for a total of KES 10000. These were basically to replace the traditional beds that I have been using for years with lots of discomforts. I later cleared school fees of KES 7000 for my four children who are in primary schools. With the remaining cash, I bought foodstuffs and other household items that I was lacking.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home busy renovating my mother's house by putting up mad on the walls since it had collapsed on one side. I still remember vividly It was exactly 9 o'clock when I received the message alert on my phone. I was with my niece who checked my phone and confirmed to me that I had received my transfer. It was a happy moment and celebrating with the family for receiving my transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Waking up in a decent and comfortable house with my family is the biggest difference in my daily life. I am grateful for the aid. I would not have imagined to constructed my house for such a short time without it. Previously, I was seeking shelter from a neighbor something that deprived me of my privacy.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For several months, I had been seeking shelter from my neighbor after my house collapsed. I had desired to construct a new decent house but I lack the financial capacity. After receiving my transfer, I spent KES 40,000 to build a decent one-roomed house for myself. I used some amount to seek medical care for my mother who got sick. At the moment she is well and I thank GiveDirectly for the aid. Furthermore, I bought 3 goats for KES 9000 this is a future investment for my family in case I face any challenges in the future.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means building a decent house for my family. Currently, I am staying in a small house which is not enough for me and my children. I am planning to spend my entire first transfer to construct a two-bedroom house and a sitting room. This helps me to live a decent life. I will leave the old house for my children so that they will be sleeping in a separate house with me to restore the respect I have lost for a long. I will further use $ 200 of my second for medical purposes I have a medical condition I.e growth in my backbone that needs surgery, due to lack of finances have been living with this problem for over 20 years. For the remaining amount, I will buy 10 goats which will act as a long-term investment project for my household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. Waking up healthily with my family despite the health challenges gives me hope for the better further.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial Crisis is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. I am a charcoal vendor, the job is tiresome and time-consuming yet its earnings are very little of $40 per month. This amount cannot fully sustain the needs of the family. We occasionally skip meals or borrow from other relatives something that ashames me.
