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 ($522 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?
My main occupation has been farming and because of the harsh climate it has been disadvantaged in terms of getting lumpsum yields to sell and consume in my household . Therefore in the previous past, I have been living a life full of worries because my income was meager hence providing for my family was a challenge meaning I could survive on debts which sometime I took long before settling them. GiveDirectly's transfer has brought a bigger change in my life because I have settled all debts which makes me happy and peaceful. I also bought four goats and I am very optimistic that with their high rate a reproduction after a short period of time . I shall be able to sale some in exchange of buying a cow since benefits that a cow gives is much higher than goats but all in all, there has to be somewhere that one starts from. I believe by keeping these livestock getting extra cash will be easier hence I would not struggle much in providing for my family . Secondly, I am happy that I am able to provide proper meals for my family since I was able to stock food.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well buy giving donation directly to beneficiaries without involving intermediaries as a result genuine targeted households were the ones who benefited for the promised amount of money which was 110,000 KES . I personally do not see what GiveDirectly did wrong at their work.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to purchase two goats since I intend to rear them in order to increase my herd of livestock as they reproduce faster and require little resources. I also bought some building materials such 10 pieces of iron sheets and paid labors to facilitate the extension of my house . The remaining amount I have saved in my Mpesa account as I plan the best way to use it .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 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 the transfer has enabled me to clear school fees for my three children who are in high school. I have been struggling to raise enough money for their education, considering that I do not have a stable source income. I thank GiveDirectly for helping me pay the fee in advance. To me, the biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have enough time to prepare and look fees for next year.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the message notification early in the morning, I could not believe it at first until I went to withdraw my transfer. It dawned on me that it was indeed true. I was very happy because I knew my life will not be the same again. There were several projects I would have started that would totally transform my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of my transfer to clear school fees for my three children who are in high school. I paid for them in advance so that they would have ample time to study. In addition to that, I also spent KES 10000 to purchase a few goats, I already had some but I felt it was important to add more. I know they will reproduce and increase in number within a short period of time. To add to that, I also spent KES 5000 and bought a metallic door. I decided to fix one in my house because the one I had was broken which made it very unsafe even during the day when we were away. I spent the remaining amount to cater for my household needs such buying food and other household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a food secure home for me and my family. With the transfers, we plan to expand farming by purchasing oxen and an ox plough which will help us cultivate a bigger portion of land within a shorter time compared to doing it manually with our hands. This will ensure we get enough food for our household allowing us to concentrate on other income generating activities. We also plan to buy goats that that we can sell in future when they have multiplied in order to solve other financial situations such as paying for the education of our children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening because that is when my family is always assured of a meal. As for breakfast and lunch, it is more of a betting game.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been a constant worry in my family. For the past one year, we have been buying food from shops which is more expensive compared to growing your own food. This has swallowed up most of our finances that would have otherwise gone towards other needs such as education or building a bigger and better house. The situation is so bad that we sometimes have to forgo certain meals mostly breakfast and lunch because we can only afford one meal for the day.