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 ($446 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Immediately after I received my transfer, I developed a goal of buying a parcel of land. It has been my dream for years to acquire a parcel of land where I can establish a home since I still live in the ancestral home. We are many in number thus I feel it would be relatively better for me to be in my own home. A place that is less congested where I can do poultry farming with minimal disturbances. When I succeed in having my own home in the future, I look forward to being more at peace hence I shall easily engage in other income-generating activities such as raising livestock.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my view, GiveDirectly is a unique NGO that does pretty well in supporting destitute families. Its financial support is unconditional and whoever qualifies for it can spend it the way they deem beneficial to them. This to a great extent has contributed to bettering the lives of the people from my community. People have spent the transfer on purchasing valuable items meant to improve their lives. In addition, majority sed te transfer to build a new house, and at the moment, the village looks pretty new and admirable. In contrast, there is nothing that GiveDirect does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
To work towards achieving my goal of buying a piece of land, I spent KES 40,000 on making the first payment to the land owner which I had earlier identified. Courtesy of the transfer, I was able to make the first commitment and this has given me confidence that I shall see this goal coming to pass. I am glad that I am only short of KES 25,000 to complete making its payments. The rest of the transfer helped me to buy food for my family since I did not have food at the time transfers were sent. I did not have money, and due to drought, acquiring food has been very difficult. The foodstuff I currently have can last my family an additional one month.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($477 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 8am while I was busy washing clothes for my family when I heard a message tone from my phone which was in the house. I wiped my hands and went for it so as to see what kind of a message has just knocked in the morning. Upon checking, I could not believe my eyes; it was too early for me to see such a heart melting message. My heart was filled with joy for seeing the huge sum of money that had been sent to me from GiveDirectly. This was the first transfer from GiveDirectly which we were promised.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before receiving the transfer, my husband relied on casual labour while I was struggling in making charcoals for sale. These sources of income were not reliable hence we used to sleep hungry some times. But since the day we received the first transfer, we are relieved from the tiresome work we used to do. My husband uses the motorbike in light transport and we are getting our basic needs from that. This is through the aid we received from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the money the first thing I had planned to do was to get a motorbike to start a business with so as to have a source of income. Basing on that, I bought a motorbike on hire purchase by paying a deposit of KES 30000.00. This motorbike is an income-generating tool hence paying the installments using the income it produces. I also bought some clothes for my children worthy KES 3000.00. This season, being a drought season, I opted to save the remaining amount for the family upkeep since getting food and water was the biggest challenge we were facing as a family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money makes me feel special that amongst all other people in Ganze that am amongst those who will benefit from the project, among all organisations that visit Give directly is one of the most respected organisations as it gives people unconditional cash transfer that comes twice, they also prepare us on how to use the money effectively and from this education many have been benefiaricies and the community visited have been transformed and I believe I will live to tell my story to my other community members.
I plan to buy domestic animals inclusive of a donkey who will help ferry out water for my household and even for my neighbors at a small fee, I have a plan to rear few cows and goats so that can be back up plan where I can resell them during hard economic times.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Recently my husband bought me a bed and mattress and some sheets and this overjoyed me because since I got married we have been sleeping on the floor with my sons.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Out of small loans we have been able to build ourselves a single room with a small cooking place inside the house , and most times it's uncomfortable when baby sleeps and there's is sooth coming out but we persevere. So it's my dream that I will expand our house to build a separate kitchen and an extra room for my kids for privacy purposes.
My son Is always out of school because of lack of school fees, and this has led to poor performance; we as parents feel bad for not able to provide education for him, so am hopeful I will be able to settle him so that he can improve on his performance in school.
