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 ($435 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to start a small food outlet shop at our nearby market. This is because I had the experience of 2 years working in a small cafe. I was forced to stop this work after marriage due to lack of sufficient capital. I intend to start it so that I may have income that would support the education of my children. Currently, I am vending groceries in the village which is not that profitable to supplement my earnings from the tailoring.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well in giving training and not forcing anyone to be enrolled. They required the potential recipients to consent by signing before enrolling them into the program. Through these meetings, we were able to get the necessary skills how to keep our monies safe. I do not have anything that I feel should be added to improve the processes since all went well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the most recent transfer to complete the construction of a permanent two-roomed house for my family. Previously, we were living in a small one-roomed house that was not enough to fully accommodate our family of 4 and the household items. I bought the required building materials like 2 doors, 2 windows, sand and cement. Similarly, I set aside $150 for labor costs for installation of them as well as for putting up a floor. In addition, I used $60 to support the education of my two children who are still in lower primary school. Lastly, I used the remaining amount to purchase household furniture like a table, chairs and a television set. I am happy that we currently reside in a proper house with the family unlike before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My phone did not have power, so I had taken it to charge in the nearby center and picked it up at 6:00 pm. The moment when I switched it on while I had reached the house I was welcomed by a Mpesa message confirming that I had received KES 55000 from Give Directly. That was the happiest moment of my life. Had I known how to write a text message then I would have sent an appreciation message to Give Directly. My spouse was still at work but I kept checking the door to see if he was coming so that I could share with him the good news. He was happy too when I showed him the message and his words were "At last we shall renovate our house".
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the feeling of happiness which comes with some peace of mind. In as much as I have not renovated the house yet, I am sure I will work on it soon. The biggest elephant in the house which was raising money for the plastering materials has been solved and everything is in place. I can not wait to have the house fully worked on. This will save us the energy and stress of finding a way to channel flooded water out of the house whenever it rains. My household will be safe too because plastering will make the walls stronger.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We have a house but it is not in a good condition. The walls have been washed of by the rain while floor is all dust, some of the room do not have doors and whenever it rains the house gets flooded. We have saved KES 50000 of the first transfer which is planning to use to purchase cement, sand, and bricks for plastering the house. The walls have been weakened by the rain, and we would not want the house to fall down because it will be more expensive to construct a new one. Plastering makes the house stronger which is a long-term solution.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better accommodation for my family of two children. I had purchased building stones, doors, and windows but I did not have the needed capital to build my house. I will use my first transfer to construct a two-bedroom spacious house this will bring me honor. My husband owns a motorcycle which is where we get our daily bread. We will buy new spare parts for the bike so that it can be in stable condition to work daily. With the remaining amount, I will buy a crossbreed cow that provides milk on daily basis. Currently, I have been being buying milk from my neighbors and I will be happy to have my cow too.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a father of two children, my firstborn was a girl and the second born is a boy 3 months old now. My wife had a longer gestation period of giving birth, and I was wondering what will happen to her. The doctors were saying she will have to go through an operation to give birth because he had overstayed. Three months ago my wife gave birth safely to a bouncing baby boy, I was excited to hold them both while they were safe. I named him after my father and am glad to see my family growing.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband's health condition is what is currently challenging me as of now. I gave birth three months ago and I still do not have the necessary energy to work. Two weeks ago my husband got chickenpox and he has been in the bed because of his condition. He works as a motorbike rider in the nearby trading center but due to his current condition, no one wants to be carried by him. They say the disease is contagious and all his customers use other riders to be carried to their respective places. This worries him and he is sure when will the customers be ready to be carried by him.
