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 ($517 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 than it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I have acquire three goats that will soon reproduce. I am certain of security to lean on during any financial crisis. Secondly, I bought a heifer which I know, we are going to save a lot of money from buying milk of our neighbors as we have always done for our household consumption and even get money from selling surplus produced to meet other family need .I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the support that it offered us.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirecty did a very wonderful job in our village by enabling us to use the money on our pressing needs. Having access to healthcare when in need is the biggest gift one can ever give to a needy person. I will be forever grateful to GiveDircetly for this exploring opportunity.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent 25,000 KES of my second transfer to purchase a dairy cow. I bought a bed and a mattress.I have been sleeping on the traditional bed made of some ropes which were so uncomfortable leaving me with sleepless nights because of back pains. I paid school fees for my daughter who is in secondary. I paid my medical bills and now I feel better, had it not been for GiveDirectly I would have had difficulties in accessing health care services. The remaining amount I bought food for my family's consumption.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The fact that my health is now good, has completely changed my life. Previously I could not do any house chores because of the back pains. I only used to take pain killers since I could not afford to go to the hospital. Being a widow worsens the situation because I was responsible for all the expenses in my home. Be it paying school fees or buying food and unavoidable emergencies. Life was really tough then, I could not even plough my farm and I had to hire someone. At times I could not afford to do any of these and that meant suffering for that whole year with no one to help me. I am now happy because I feel relieved after visiting the doctor. I can do the normal house chores and everything that I couldn't do when I was sick. If it was not for GiveDirectly, I would still be living a miserable life. May God bless this organization for their good deeds.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was awakened by the loud vibration from my mobile phone. I ignored it since I thought they were random messages that are normally sent by our mobile service providers. It was not long before I heard my neighbors say they had received money from GiveDirectly. I got curious and decided to check the messages that had got in earlier. I was shocked to realize I was among the people who had been sent the money. I was overwhelmed with joy. I remember planning how to best I would use the transfers to change my life. It was a very joyous and emotional moment
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Since I have been unwell for long, I spent a big portion of the money to cater for my medical bills. I have been having back pains for over 2 years now, and I did not have enough cash for medication. I am so happy since I am recovering after seeing the doctor. I later paid the school for my daughter who is in college. She has not been going to school for the past three weeks due to the huge school fees balance. I later bought a few goats. I am sure they will be of great help in the future. I then hired someone to prepare my farm since I can't cultivate it on my own considering the health problems that I have. I spent the remaining amount of money to buy enough foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Despite my 2 children completing secondary school in 2013, they have not been able to get their certificates due to the huge outstanding fee balances. This has forced them not to advance their studies to college level, something that has made them resort to casual activities. Receiving this money means clearing fee arrears of $ 250 for my children and getting their certificate. I am also planning to spend the remaining amount in seeking proper medication as I am suffering from backbone problems.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day because it is at this time that I can probably eat when my children come home with a packet of maize flour from their casual labor activities. Eating while sharing stories with my children give me joy and I always laugh a lot at this time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Suffering from backbone problems and failure to acquire proper medication due to inadequate finances has been the biggest challenge in my life. This problem has forced me to depend on my children who are doing casual labour because I am unable to work. Their income is 2 dollars per day which is hard to fully sustain our family's basic needs like food not to mention paying their own fees arrears and taking me to hospital.