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 ($523 USD)
access_time over 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 from how it would have been in case Give Directly never came to my life. Through their help, I was able to pay my daughter's university fee with ease. I do not know where I could have gotten the money to enroll my child at the university. The headache had gone once I received the transfers because I knew that I was able to settle everything including paying her rent. She is now having an easy time at the university. Owning a second cow is also one of my achievements. I bought a cow and this asset will help me in case an emergency arises.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What I love about GiveDirectly is that we were given money that can not be refunded. Our living standards have increased as a result of this. People built houses and bought livestock that they never even thought that they could own. One is able to invest freely without fear since there is no pressure on how to use it. It was unconditional with no strings attached.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer to pay fees for my daughter who was joining a university. This was very important to me to the extent that I decided that if I did not get the money, I was to sell my cow. I believe that her education is very important because she is guaranteed to get job opportunities. Besides that, I also paid rent for her. She lives outside the college. Having food in my house was also another priority that I had. We did not get a good harvest last year and so I used part of the money to buy three bags of maize. The remaining amount was spent on buying shoes and clothes for my younger children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($533 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Buying milk had been my daily routine and as a way of reducing my daily expenditure, I settled on buying a dairy cow using part of my transfers. I had always been planning to do this but was not able to due to limited resources. I am hoping that it will be calving soon and I will no longer be spending on milk as I do currently. Also, I will have enough milk for my household use and sales to earn an income to use in paying for my children's education. Owning this dairy cow is so far the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes to 4 am when I received a call from one of my neighbors. Upon receiving it, he joyfully asked me if I had also received the money from GiveDirectly like him. I became so happy after reading a Mpesa message that I had received, and I shared the good news with my spouse. I knew that we would be able to achieve our goals as a family using this money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I bought a dairy cow. I settled on this so that it would relieve me of the cost of buying milk daily. Also, I will be earning an income through milk sales. I also cleared school fees arrears for my daughter who had been sent back home. I am now glad since she was able to sit for their end year examinations. I used the remaining amount to buy some basic needs for my family. I bought some decent clothes, maize flour, and other foodstuffs.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When my wife sat for her secondary school examination last year, I was certain of a good grade but a bit sceptical about her qualification to join university. To my surprise she beat the odds to pass and has since got an admission letter to join Moi University. A four year journey course will require a lot of money. However, receiving this money means my worry has been lifted. My immediate plan is to invest my first transfer in a dairy cow and the remaining bit in maize and beans farming. Income generated from this agribusiness is enough income to finance my wife's university education and sufficient income keep my family above water.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On a typical day, I juggle between tilling my farm and motorcycle taxi business. Coming back home in the evening makes me happy because it is almost the only time I spend with my wife and children while amid cheerful conversation.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Growing up more than 30 years ago, my community enjoyed surplus yields in maize production. This was immensely attributed to a favorable climate due to even distribution of rainfall throughout the year. But man is the enemy of fellow man and environment. A once thick forest of more than 2,000 acres that acted as a water catchment area has been carelessly squandered to oblivion by locals from adjacent villages. A decade ago nature has since began to pay back in leaps and bounds. During drought, livestock die of starvation and children face malnutrition. Rainfall and bountiful harvests are only tales to our children. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life.
