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 ($524 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Were it not for GD, I wouldn't have managed to purchase construction materials a house for my children. The little money which I usually get from farming and casual jobs are hardly enough to save for constructing a house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
To me, Give Directly did an amazing job by giving us money and the authority to plan for it. Now am happy I got to achieve what was bothering me.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
The second transfer which I had received from Give Directly, I spent a large portion on buying building materials for constructing a house for my teenage sons. They had nowhere nights and they would go to a nearby neighbour's house to spend there. I opted to make this sacrifice so that they would have a comfortable environment to study. The remaining portion, I spend on buying some food for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time 5 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 built a decent spacious house for my family. We used to live in a small house that could not host all my family members comfortably. I have no stable source of income since I primarily depend on casual jobs in the village to support my family. I spent my wages from these jobs mostly on the daily basic needs of the family thus investing or improving my house could not happen. I had to strain a lot to build a more spacious house since sleeping with grown-up children in one house is a taboo in our culture and it was becoming uncomfortable for us. My children spend their nights at our neighbor's house which at times was not welcomed and faced a lot of risk at night moving to these houses. Currently, I have built a better and spacious house. My children have their own room where they do their homework and assignment without any disturbances. They no longer get worried about where they can spend their nights like before. I currently have the confidence to let anyone into my house since I have enough space to host them. I am so much grateful for the support from GiveDirectly, it has greatly changed my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I realized I had received my first transfer. I was taking breakfast with my family early that morning as I go through my phone. I had no idea of what was already in my account. As I checked my phone, I was surprised by a message from GiveDirectly confirming that I had received a sum of 55000KES. I felt so happy and immediately saw my dream of building a better house for my family becoming real.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I built a house using part of the first transfer. We used to live in a small house before which could not host all my family members comfortably. I also bought farm inputs and pay workers who cultivate my farm the rest of the money I used it to buy a dairy cow and food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I am a commercial maize farmer, I often struggle to get money for my farm inputs. When I receive my first transfer, I am planning to purchase a dairy cow which will provide a regular source of income to cater for my farm's needs like seeds, fertiliser and pest control mechanisms.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My wife and I are full time farmers. Our day involves juggling between weeding in our maize, beans and sweet potato farms to looking after our cattle and cooking midday meals for the family. It is in the evening that we find time to rest and revitalize. This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being an ASAL area, live in my community can become so cumbersome during prolonged period of drought which occur every year. Livestock run short of feeds and people run out of food. Children are often most affected by malnutrition caused by starvation and unbalanced diets so much so that they drop out of school to engage in casual labour with their parents. Moreover when farm production is hampered, school drop out skyrockets owing to the fact that most parents use their farm yields to pay their children's fees in kind.
