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 ($491 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?
Our self-esteem has significantly improved since we have a decent house. Also, maintenance of our house has become so easy because we no longer have to smear walls. Overall, the transfer impacted a lot on our lives.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by sending money directly to each recipient. This results in the avoidance of conflicts and instances of pilferages. In my opinion, I find nothing that GiveDirectly doesn't do well
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent all the second transfer (53,000 shillings) on improving our house by building brick-house. We have always needed a decent house with low maintenance costs because our initial mud-walled house was difficult to maintain. As such, I had saved a substantial amount of money for improving the house. Si, I topped up the savings with the transfer.
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?
I was wondering who had send me greetings early in the morning while preparing to go to milking parlour. On checking my phone, it was an Mpesa notification message from GiveDirectly and I was overwhelmed with joy and didn't disclose to my kids. From the milking parlour my children had already seen the message and they too were very happy. I told to keep this as a secret for my own security. I withdrew the money a week later when I was ready to purchase building materials.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is shifting from a timber walled house to a brick walled house. This is because my timber walled house was old, worn out because the timber were eaten up and would fall out any time.For a longtime I had desired to have one but it wasn't possible because I couldn't afford. I had been a PTA teacher for a long time and wouldn't be paid for close to two months and I was frustrated and left my job. I now very happy because my dream of living in a brickwalled house has come to pass.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 400 USD of my transfer on building materials for my house which is currently under construction.This is because after family land division it necessitated me to shift my house. I also spent some on clothing, food and other household items. The rest I spent on payment of casual labors constructing my house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Building a house for my family is what receiving this money mean to me. Since we were apportioned a piece of land somewhere in the same village, I have been forced to move to the new area. Currently, I am living with my mother in the same compound and I am required to relocate with my family. My ambition has been to get finance that I will use to build a new house for my family of 4.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My normal day entails preparing breakfast for my 3 children in the morning and doing my routine household chores such as cleaning utensils, washing clothes, among others. I will then go to work in my 1 acre piece of land at midmorning by weeding, digging and/or planting new crops. I will then use my afternoon to fetch water and firewood in the nearby forest. I feel most relaxed in the evening because this is the only free time I have to spend with my children. Therefore, the happiest part of my day is in the evening.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Inadequacy of finance to educate my children has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. I am s single parent and raising my 3 children alone has been an uphill task since I have been growing maize on my 1 acre piece of land which is hardly enough for both domestic and education expenses. This has forced me to rely on well wishers in order to raised School fees. This has also lowered my self esteem since I feel I have failed as a parent.
