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 ($430 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I don't have enough land for farming since I only own a small piece of land that I inherited from my father. My goal this year is to save towards purchasing a piece of land so that I can practice farming on it. Achieving this means that I will get additional income from selling farm produce and thus I will be able to provide for my family and support my old parents.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
If it were not for the transfers, I wouldn't be where I am today. I wouldn't have been living in a two bedroom house and I wouldn't have owned livestock. This applies to so many people in the village whom their lives changed in different ways. Therefore, what GiveDirectly does well is empowering people to change their lives through the cash transfers, keep it up.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I married early last year and being the head of a young family, I wanted to plan myself so that when I have kids, I will be able to provide for them and they will have somewhere proud to call home. Since I had a single room, I spend part of my first transfers to build some other two rooms and I needed to put a roof on it. I spend $280 of my second transfer to buy iron sheets which I used for roofing and the balance to buy a dairy cow. I am so grateful that I have a nice specious home for my family and I'm looking forward to earn some income from selling milk once the cow gives birth. I am supper grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($468 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 at night after dinner and I was almost going to bed when I checked if my livestock had enough feed and locked in their stable. I received a message and checked it after I go back to my house. Immediately after I saw the message of the received funds, I was pleased to walk back to my mother’s house and share the news, instead; I called her and she was so happy for me, I could hear her screams of excitement and the rest of neighbors.
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 the transfers is buying the cow, which can be a source of income for me, and building the house which will enable me to have a family and retire from my bachelor lifestyle.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my cash to buy a dairy cow for KES 35,000. The rest of the money was used to build a simple two-roomed house on the piece of land allocated to me. The house is almost complete and only needs me to buy the doors, windows, and cement to finish the floor. The principal aim of building the house is to move out of my mother’s land and start my own life as an adult. This means that at the moment, I can marry and start my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I work casually as a bus driver which earns me about KES 250 daily. This has thrown a spanner in the works now that this money is not sustainable for me. I can neither save nor invest. When I receive this money I will set KES 45,000 to build a two-roomed iron sheet house. To guarantee my self of future cash flow, I will consider buying a dairy cow with KES 40,000 to enable me to tap income through the sale of milk. I will be happy to see my dreams coming through. The remaining money will help me renew my driving license
What is the happiest part of your day?
It was in February 2022 when I received KES 1,000 from my job. This was my best day as I have never worked and earned such an amount in a day. I was so happy and decided to use the amount to buy solar energy for my house.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My driving license is expired and this has frustrated my job hunting. I need about KES 10,000 to renew my license. All my daily earnings of about KES 250 go for food and other basic needs. This is making me feel sad and stressed.
