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 ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Although I am now living in a more spacious and relatively better house, I was concerned about the condition of its floor. I hadn't cemented it since I built it, exposing my family to extreme dust. As a result, we were frequently adversely affected by respiratory diseases caused primarily by dust exposure. As a result, as soon as I received my transfer, I set a goal of prioritizing spending a portion of it on cementing the floor of my house, and I am hopeful that this will improve our living conditions.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my continuous observation, I have learned that GiveDirectly is so good at enhancing its follow-up practices for its recipients. Before sending the subsequent transfers, its staffs call on every recipient to determine if at all we received the transfer and how we spent it. Through this, it collects vital information on the benefits each recipient enjoys courtesy of receiving his/her transfers. Since all that GiveDirectly has is for the betterment of our lives as a community, I have not so far noticed what it does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the recent transfer, I prioritized spending KES 20,000 on cementing the floor of my house which was in a bad condition. Currently, it is relatively better and my family members no longer suffer from respiratory-related problems. In addition, I spent KES 7,000 on buying two goats that I am currently raising with the hope to sell them once my flock increases in number. In addition, since I have my parents undertaking a project for building a new house, I opted to spend KES 7000 on buying them an additional iron sheet. They are pretty grateful for the positive gesture I showed to them. Lastly, I spent KES 5,000 on buying foodstuff to supplement the ones I had. This I did because we are fast approaching an election period and I do not know what may be the outcome of the election process.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Water around our village has been a major concern and usually I head out to fetch water on a daily basis. On this particular day, I had just arrived home from the water fetching errand when I received an MPESA notification. I was so elated and could not believe what I saw. I was able to withdraw the amount the following day and kick started some projects I had set.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
On receiving the funds, I have been able to build a good house for my parents to live in and more to that, I have been able to buy a goat to continue sharpening my animal rearing skills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The receiving of KSH 55000 from GiveDirectly gave me quite a major boost in fulfilling the goals set. I was able to renovate my house into a well constructed and finished structure. I bought iron sheets at KSH 20500 , timber at KSH 7000, nails at KSH 1800 and the labour cost of KSH 10000. All these enabled me to strongly establish a firm and well looking house for my parents. I also enhanced my animal farming skills by purchasing a goat at KSH 6500. For food supplements, I used up KSH 2800 and the remainder of KSH 6400 has been used for the daily purchase of food products such as kales.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means investment to me. I have a family of three members. My husband works as a masonry and he earns very little income. I will use KES 60000 to buy 15 goats as investment. This will help my family in future incase of any financial needs. I will also use KES 40000 to boost my potatoes business . I am now frying potatoes and go round the village selling. My plan is to rent a room at Ganze center and door my business from a central place. Currently ,I make a profit of KES 500 per day. My assumption is to make KES 2000 per day as a profit. This is possible at Ganze because there is a large market for my business. The center has four schools. Two primary and two secondary schools . Will use the remaining KES 10000 to buy food for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
During Christmas festivals, many people came in our village from the town centres. This created a pool for my potatoes business. I could make a profit of KES 1000 per day for the entire Christmas festival season. The huge profit in my business brought happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a business woman selling potatoes in the village. I do walk from one compound to another. I have a small baby(8months ) and it is a challenge going round the village with him at the back. The sun really affects him and most of the time I do not finish selling my stock. So lack of reliable market for my business is the challenge I am currently facing.
