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
55000 KES ($508 USD)
access_time over 3 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 than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have been able to rent a piece of land and planted maize and potatoes. Our area is semi arid and sometimes planting is done once per year. I always rent farms at different places where planting is done twice per year. I have been doing this horticulture farming before GiveDirectly came to our area. The big challenge that I had was lack of enough capital. I was not in a position to get good harvest because I was not in a position to plant on time and the piece of land I could afford to pay was small. When I received the second transfer I was in a position to rent a much bigger piece of land. I was also in a position to buy seeds and fertilizer on time. I did did planting the the right time. I am so much grateful for the support because I know I will have the good harvest this coming season and my family will have enough to eat. I will sell the surplus to earn an income to pay the school fees for my children. I will also save some amount to spend on the next planting season. I am so grateful for the support.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 30,000ksh of the second transfer on paying school fees for my children in various secondary school. The rest of the money I used it to rent a piece of land and planted maize and potatoes. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received kes 55000 to my mobile money account, I felt so happy and at the se time relieved for I knew that my plans would come to pass
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am a happy farmer now having bought one dairy cow and having crops on my farm is a greatest achievement. I always thank God for GiveDirectly because I couldn't have achieved all these where it not for thier support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My first transfers which I received from GiveDirectly, I spent KES 25000 on buying a dairy cow for milk production. I had sold that which I had to raise school fees for my children. I then invested KES 20000 in farming . I hired a tractor to tilt the land for planting and purchase maize seeds, beans and fertilizer for planting. The remaining amount of KES 10000, I spent on buying some furniture and food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Every year I have been farming in my 0.5ha of land and harvesting an average of 8 bags of Maize. If I get GD transfers, I will make sure that increase the size of land I cultivate to 2ha. This means I will use part of the money to lease 1.5ha piece of land. Also, I will make sure that I use modern farm mechanization so that I get a greater yield per ha.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the morning I always plan how my day will look like and this is the time when I feel happiest because the other part of the day is to struggle to complete planned activities.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The land I am using for farming is infertile and I have been trying to lease a fertile land in different location but I lack capital to start it. Most of my income that I get from farming goes to school fees for my children leaving nothing for improving farm size and fertility.
