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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($443 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?
Apparently, I do not have any new goal except finalising on the completion of my house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly did well was to empower us financially and this translated into better living standards for our family. Their was nothing that did not go well
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since getting clean water has been an uphill task for my family and I, but anytime it rains the water always go into waste. I therefore, decided to invest in a water tank that has been helpful in storage of clean water for my family's consumption. We no longer struggle to look for clean water as it is now available. Besides, I bought 10 bags of cement which will come in handy when cementing my house which I constructed using the proceeds from the first transfer. Additionally, my children's school fees arrears got sorted. Finally, my family of seven also had an opportunity to change diet as well. Being a charcoal vendor and my husband a casual labourer, achieving the stated dreams would have been a dream were it not for GiveDirectly cash transfer program since whatever we do get most of the time is only enough to take care of the family needs. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7pm and I was at home preparing supper for my family when I got the SMS confirming that I had received the money from GiveDirectly. I was so happy when I received the money because I did not have a job as I solely depended on my charcoal burning and selling business which hardly raised enough money to enable me address the challenges that I had been facing especially getting a better and bigger house with a separate kitchen structure.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly is that we no longer suffer from not having or getting food regularly like we used to before. We could go an entire day with only a single meal and at times with no meal at all, but ever since I started receiving money from GiveDirectly, that has changed and we get food regularly from the transfer I received. I now have a better and bigger house and a separate kitchen structure, which makes me so happy and proud.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 48000 on building a bigger and better house as well as a separate kitchen structure because the one we have been living in previously was so small and served as the main house and kitchen. This was particularly so wrong and against our community's culture and traditions which forbid parents and grown-up children to share the same room. In addition to that, cooking activities also used to make the house unbearable and uncomfortable to sleep in due to the much smoke from the firewood which we use to prepare our meals. This used to be the case because my charcoal burning and selling business barely raised enough money to enable me address that, as well as my husband's job as a casual labourer in construction sites too could only earn him enough to buy us some meals. I am so happy because I now have a separate kitchen structure, we sleep comfortably and no longer worried about sleeping in a smoke filled house and my children have their separate rooms which our community's culture and traditions required, all thanks to GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been living in a house that is under construction for around four years now. It all started when we decided to build a three roomed house but our resources depleted halfway, only completed one room of ten by ten feet. It's been the only family dwelling where we eat seated on the beds and sleep right there with my five children. By the initial plans, two rooms were supposed to be our bedroom and children's, and a third one as a living room. But here we are, stuck in this. When I get this money, I would like to build a similar house to its completion. That way I know my family will be accommodated in a decent way.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I feel very happy because since the year began my marriage has been very stable. Most of last year we had a lot of conflicts with my husband that could grow into hot verbal exchanges. We were also being counselled by my father in law. I'm now happy that phase is behind us and we can now plan together.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Inadequacy of financial resources has always crippled most of our projects. My husband works as a casual labuoror in construction sites. A job that pays him around 3000 KES weekly whenever he works for all the six days. This is way too little and can only get us food, but we still need clothes among other basic needs as well as paying school fees for our children.
