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 ($518 USD)
access_time 4 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 it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I build a better house for my family. Before we used to live in a small house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to improve their standard of living. I do not find anything that was not done well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spend part of my second transfer on to buy food for the family and the rest of the money I used it to buy a motorcycle. My spouse uses it as a taxi and we earn an income through this project.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($537 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a dairy cow. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I depend on manuals jobs in the village to earn an income to meet all the basic needs of my family. Sometimes I could go to the forest to fetch firewood to sell to get money for the basic needs. I could wake up early in the morning to look for casual jobs and come back late at night. I had no much time to interact and bond with my family. Buying cow was not on my list because I had no continuous source of income or savings to use. Currently, I have a dairy cow. I have enough milk for my family used and I sell the surplus milk to earn an income to meet other basic needs including paying school fees for my children. I no longer do much of the casual jobs like before. I have devoted much of my time on my own farm. I am so much grateful for the support because it has improved our standard of living.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard the message from my phone. When I checked it it was a confirmation from GiveDirectly that I have received a sum of 55000 KES. I felt so happy and immediately informed my spouse and children and we all celebrated. I knew from that point that I will be in a position to buy a dairy cow.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy a dairy cow. Buying milk was so costly for me and this prompted me to buy a dairy cow to cut the cost and the rest of the money I used it to buy food for the family and clothes for my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would like to make an investment for my children's education in future. After much deliberation with my husband, we resolved to invest our first transfer in livestock especially cows. This decision has been informed by a favorable condition for dairy farming to thrive including which is a ready market for our products. Thus receiving this money means I would no longer have to fret about my children's academic and social security.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On most occasions I engage in casual jobs to earn income. My job usually involves collecting firewood in the morning from a nearby forest and selling them in the village for money. The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon after receiving payment for my fuel delivery because it boosts my esteem to be in a position of reinforcing my husbands efforts to provide the family with daily bread.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Livestock play a big role as source of income to most people in my village. Without one, a person is forced to buy milk on a daily basis to feed their family. For our case, my husband is an employed motorcycle taxi rider who comes home every day with a paltry amount of KES 200 in average, an amount that must be used to buy milk and other household necessities. This is often not enough to save since this amount only caters for the day's needs especially food thus putting off any investment plans. Our wish has always been to find an alternative source of income which will provide enough capital for investment especially in agribusiness.
