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 ($435 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I hope to be able to comfortably provide all the basic needs for my family in the next one or two years from now.
We really struggled in the past as and given this great opportunity to receive free and unconditional transfers, We are hoping to completely change our lives for the better.
In the next one year, I will be supplying milk and venturing into other forms of farming and enrol all my children to school without having to worry about school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
One thing that Give Directly did well, was considering to go an extra mile to provide phones to us who did not have to make sure that we are not left out regardless.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I started receiving Give Directly transfers, I decided to buy a piece of land so that I can start practicing farming. I was able to complete all the payment and I planted maize and beans that are already doing so well.
With the transfers, I was able to buy one cow as well that is almost conceiving and hopefully, I will start a milk business soon.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($466 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5 Pm I was just at home relaxing after a busy day. I heard a message notification from my phone. I thought were just common messages from the service provider. It was a message confirming that GiveDirectly has sent me KES 55,000. I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money. I informed my children and they all celebrated, it was one of the happiest evenings. I withdraw the money the following day. I am so grateful for the support.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased a dairy cow. I always buy milk daily and this is so costly for me. I do not have an income-generating activity at home I do small-scale farming a home. Majorly I depend on my spouse to provide for the family. He does casual jobs in the village and the amount of money that he gets is so small. We were not able to purchase a dairy cow. Currently, we are so happy because we one a heifer. This has given us hope since when it reproduces in the next few months I will get enough milk. I will cut the daily cost of buying milk daily which is so costly. GiveDirectly has changed our living standard to be much better than before. I have devoted much of my time to this dairy project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 on purchasing a heifer. This is because I buy milk daily and this is so costly for me. Currently, I hope that when my cow reproduces in the next few months I will cut the daily cost of buying milk. I will get enough milk for my children and sell the surplus to earn an income. I spent KES 15,000 on purchasing two tables and a bed. I am so happy because I had always wished to buy them before but I did not have the money. I spent the remaining money on paying part of the school fees for my children in primary school and on food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an increase in our savings. I am a housewife and my husband is a casual laborer in the village earning an approximate wage of KES 150 a day. Due to the huge recurrent expenditures of the household and school expenses, we have been unable to save enough money. We spend a lot of cash to purchase milk which is KES 75 a day. We intend to reduce spending on milk by purchasing a dairy cow which costs approximately KES 30,000 from the first transfer. I am glad that soon we will be able to own one using the transfer from Give Directly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 1 month, we were able to finalize the construction of our house and this has brought happiness to our lives. We managed to accomplish it through the merry-go-round money that I managed to get in the same month. Initially, we used to live in a single house which acted as the kitchen and as the main house. We are now happy that we have two separate houses in our family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The high cost of living is the challenge we are currently facing. Over the past few months, the government increased tax on commodities, especially food stuff which has made life unbearable. My husband is a casual laborer in the village earning an estimated wage of KES 150 a day. That amount is hardly enough to cater to a family of 6 compared to 7 months ago when commodities were a bit cheaper. I feel sad that if the condition persists, we might sleep empty stomach because the income from my husband will be unsustainable.
