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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 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 saved some money to buy school items and pay school fees for my daughter who is yet to join form one this month. I depend on small scale farming and the harvest that we get is only for consumption. I don't have a continuous source of income. I had some small savings but that was not enough. I was so worried because I didn't want my daughter to fail joining the form one. She score the best grades and she was called by one of the good school around. When I received the second transfer I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to pay all the school fees and my daughter would study well. Investment in education for my children had been always my wish. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled us to live a better life.
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. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing two goats, I also bought clothes and food for the family. The rest of the money I save to pay school fees for my daughter who is yet to join form one this month. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled us to live a better life than before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was at 6:59am when I was taking breakfast with my children who wanted to go to school when the message came. I told them about the transfer and they all jumped up and down in jubilation . When they left for school, I prepared myself to go collect the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My son used to sleep with his cousins and he had always wished to have his own house. Thanks to GiveDirectly he now has his own house as he had always wished. he likes to graze the cow we bought from the transfers as he knows that soon we shall be milking our own milk.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a cow a cow that is about to calf , built a house for my son and bought 2 bags of maize and 10 kilograms of rice.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money mean I will be able to improve the life of my family. This is because I will own a dairy cow of approximately Ksh 20,000. I will use the milk for domestic use and sell the surplus in the nearby centre in order to cater for other family's needs. This will ensure that my family will live a healthy life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because I use my entire day as casual labourer working in other people's farms within the village. Going home in the evening to rest with some coins in my pocket is the joy of my life since I know my children will not go to bed empty stomach.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is inadequacy of school fees to educate my children. Raising a family of 4 children single handedly is an uphill task. I lost my husband 8 years ago due to stroke and since then, our life changed drastically owing to the fact that he was the sole provider of the family. This forced me to look for an alternative source of income working in other people's farms as a casual labourer within the village such as weeding, digging, among others. The wage I get is hardly enough for fees and other domestic use because I get approximately Kenya shillings 200 a day.
