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 ($442 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to restart poultry farming especially, layers which is an alternative income-generating activity that I had been helping in educating the 4 children. Currently, I had stopped due to a chest problem and am required to undergo a blood transfusion. I was forced to use the capital that I had to seek medication and pay fees. Previously, I was earning KES 300-400 per day from the selling of eggs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in assisting the extremely poor households in our community with the cash transfer aid. Through the transfer, I was able to accomplish a lot, especially educating the children given that I am unable to work due to my health conditions. In addition, allowing the beneficiaries to decide how to use the transfer was something that was well thought out. I could say that there is nothing that it did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Providing quality education for the 2 daughters has been my biggest desire in life. Most of the time, I could not support their education as the small dry fish business could not earn me enough income to support their education. After receiving the transfer, I used KES 32000 to pay part of the fees arrears of the two kids who are in secondary school. In addition, I use KES 3000 to boost my business by purchasing more stock. Currently, I am happy that I can earn KES 1000 per two months. Before I used to walk around the village selling them but at the moment, I can no longer vend them due to deteriorating health conditions. With the remaining amount, I bought sufficient food for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 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 around 6am while still in bed when I received a message on my phone. I took the initiative of checking despite how sleepy I was due to the previous day’s casual work that I did. When I opened the message box on the phone screen, I did not believe my eyes. I read the message twice to confirm, and for sure it was the first transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed after projecting how my business would prosper after restocking it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that I can attest to is that for a while I had the zeal and admiration for starting a poultry project but had no capital to kick start the project. Lucky enough, GiveDirectly came to our village and through them, I managed to construct the structure soon I will be keeping the chicken for sale purposes. By doing so, I will be having an income-generating activity that will enable me to manage my family's needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, I bought 14 pieces of iron sheets for KES 18200.00. These iron sheets were for constructing a poultry structure since I had a plan of starting a poultry project. I also took KES 20000.00 and paid the starting fees for my form one child as well as paying KES 5000.00 for my form three child. Thereafter, I added stock of KES 4000.00 to my grocery which I had started earlier. For the remaining amount, I saw it prudent to buy some food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I own a small business selling silver cyprinid here in the village. My ambition was to rent a shop at the shopping center so that I can get more customers than now. Receiving this money will be like my dream come true. I plan to use fifty thousand Kenya shillings to rent the shop and to add more stock to the business, thirty thousand Kenya shillings to clear school fees for my child who is in form one, and the balance to purchase sacks of maize that will sustain my family for some time while my business is flourishing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
December 2021 was my happiest month ever. I was able to make more sales during the festive season since so many people came to the village to observe Christmas and new year. The money I collected enabled me to plan for the celebrations and the school opening.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband is a retired teacher. He stopped working three years ago while my second-born son was in form four. We started to hustle to earn a living since his pension money was not yet out. As we speak he is at home just relying on the small business that I own. The business collapsed several times for the lack of capital since we highly depended on it for food and education. Therefore a reliable source of income is the challenge that I am currently facing.
