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 ($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?
I am looking forward to savings some money and take a loan to buy a car and put it in to Uber business. Accomplishing this means that I will be earning more money and therefore I will be able to pay college fees for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is empowering us in various ways. For instance, the transfers have enabled me to buy a motorbike and I am now self employed. I could not have accomplished this on my own and I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest time, I have been working as a bus driver and earnings daily commissions of between $3 to $5. These commissions have never been enough to sustain my family needs and it has been a struggle paying school fees and providing for a family of three ( wife and two children) since I am the sole provider. Although I wanted to buy my own motorbike to operate a taxi business with, I have never been able to raise the capital. When I was enrolled in the program, I saw it a good opportunity to go after my dreams. I combined both my first and second transfer and added $200 from my savings and bought a motorbike worth $1300. For the last few months that I have been self employed, I have been an average monthly income of $200. With this money, I have been able to provide for my family without much strain like 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?
I felt so happy the moment I received the transfer. It was around 4am when I heard a message notification from my phone. When I checked it out I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I immediately inform my family members in the morning and they were so happy. They celebrated with lots of joy. I knew I would be able to buy a dairy cow. I went and withdrew the money the same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Buying a dairy cow is the biggest difference in my daily life. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I depend on casual jobs in the village and small scale farming. This earns me an income to meet household basic and pay school fees for my children. I didn't had other source of income. I was not able to save some money to purchase a dairy cow. My children would go without milk and this was so demoralizing and stressful. When I received the transfer I felt so happy, I knew I would be able to buy a dairy cow. Currently I get enough milk for the family unlike before. My children does no longer go without milk. I can sell the extra milk to earn an income. I used the income to meet other household needs and save some to pay the school fees. I no longer stress up on where to get the money for milk. I have devoted much of my time on this dairy project. I wished to maintained and improve this to another better level.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 on purchasing a dairy cow. This has enabled me to cut the daily cost of buying milk which is so costly.
I Paid KES 10,000 school fees for my children in various schools. My children were able to study well without being sent home like before. Their performance has improved compared to previous days. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes for my children. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had a job as a driver with the county government a job that saw my household through in most of the needs. I was able to educate my children well at the primary level and also daily household needs were not a problem meeting them then. I loved my job and I maximized my salary on family development. I used part of it to build a semi-permanent three-roomed house. It was my source of happiness since I knew I would have a decent home upon completion. In the year 2018, I lost my job forcing me to go back to farming to meet my family's needs. My dream of house completion was cut short. Receiving this money to me means a dream come true. I am planning to spend KES 30000 to complete the floor by cementing it. This is my happiness since I do not see any other sources of funds to complete it. Living in a decent home together with my children is my heart's desire. Thank you Givedirectly for coming through.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is not easy relying on farming alone to meet family needs. My income is seasonal and majorly depends on weather conditions. In the last six months, I have enjoyed the support of my wife in taking care of our needs. She joined the cereal business which has positively impacted my family. She currently takes care of our daily household needs living me to look for my two children fee with peace of mind.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I depend on subsistence farming to support my family. I have two children in secondary school and paying their school fees is not easy with the little earning from my farm. Currently, the lack of a formal job is the biggest challenge I am facing.
