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 ($490 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 how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I have been able to build a more spacious house for my family. Due to this, I can now welcome any visitors at my house comfortably without worrying where they will sit or sleep. Also, I have been able to purchase a heifer. This is an investment to me since I will be earning some money through the sale of surplus when it calves.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid to people and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent around KES 12,000 to finish building house for my family. I had already started building it using my first transfer but ran short of funds. Also, I spent KES 18500 to purchase some household items. I bought four sets of seats, a hoofer and a table. I still have KES 15000 that I have saved. I am planning to spend them in case of any emergency.
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?
It was around six twenty one Friday morning when I was waking up and I heard the phone rang. On checking the contents, I couldn't believe my eyes and thought the SMS was from conmen because had eargerly waited all night to no avail. On rechecking the text, I confirmed it was real and was very happy and immediately woke up my boys and relayed the news.They also saw the SMS felt excited and we were all very grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building my own house because before it was difficult to get a lump sum. Through GD transfers, I was able to put up my house in two days. I am happy because my new house can access up to 12 at people in one sitting unlike the other which old and very tiny. GD tranfers have also enabled to buy and plant certified seeds on time unlike before when I used to get one farm inputs at a time. Nowadays, my day is fully occupied because I have a lot of work to do. After completion of my house, I have maize seedlings to weed because they are due for weeding.This is unlike before when I used to spent my day working for other people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
A half of my first transfer was spent on building a two roomed 24-Iron roofed semi permanent house.Initially, I used to live in an old, tiny and grass thatched house built over 20 years ago when I was was still a youth. Some was spent on a heifer because I had one inherited one from my father and wanted to have my own. This will act as an investment and from the milk production income I will be able to pay school fees for kid's in future. Some was spent on maize seeds farming. This is because it was quite a struggle to buy maize seeds and would rely on short seasoned crops for school fees and buy food. I also bought two sacks of maize meal and latest clothing for my family because Christmas is around the corner The rest I have saved for Christmas day celebrations.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Building a three roomed iron roofed house at an estimate cost of $300, A poultry unit that will cost $50, buying 30 chicks @$2 each and their feeds as well as buying barbed wire and wiremesh for fencing my compound to restrict the chicken from destroying crops on my neighbour's farms is what receiving this money means to me. I will also use $150 to buy a dairy heifer that will be my source of income in future once it multipliers and produce milk for sale.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After spending my whole day in the scorching sun working in people's farms, watching the sun set in the evening as I catch up with my peers at the shopping center to chat and get updates on what is happening around the country is the time I feel most relaxed.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My wife and four children abandoned me and went back to her parents house ten years ago after I was unable to secure a sustainable source of income to provide food and other necessities for them. I live a stressful life now that I have never had the chance to set my eyes on my children since then. I have tried my best looking for a sustainable employment that would enable me to convince her to come back, but the jobs available in this area are unreliable casual jobs. This is the biggest hardship I face.
