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 had I never received the transfer because I now have a water tank. I am now glad that even though I am still going to the river to fetch water, I believe that this will no longer be the case very soon when it starts to rain. I will be using the water harvested for domestic use and also to water my vegetables during dry season.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid so that one can decide how to spend them and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 21000 from my transfer to buy a water tank with a storage capacity of 3000 litres. I settled on this so that I can be using it to collect rain water. I am growing old and weak as the days passes by and I am no longer able to go to the river to fetch water. With this tank, I will no longer bother my grandchildren with the task of fetching water for me. Also, I bought a heifer worth KES 12000 so that I can rear it with the dairy cow I had bought using my first transfer. I will be using the income from milk sales after it reproduces to cater for my family's basic needs. On the remaining amount, I spent them on farming and to buy food. I bought some farm inputs and also used it on farm preparation purposes after buying one sack of maize for our consumption.
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?
I heard Mpesa notification message around six in the morning while still asleep.I immediately jumped out of bed because I was overwhelmed with joy and I couldnt keep it to myself. I decided to withdrew the money the following day because that day all the MoMo agents around were fully packed. After withdrawing the money I was very cautious on how I kept it. I had to keep inside a hidden wallet in my bag because I had never received a lump sum before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is owning a dairy cow which I have never owned the whole of my life. Having bought this cow, I foresee a financially secure future.This is because once the cow gives birth I intend to to invest the income in merry go contribution in order to get money for development my home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of money on a dairy cow which is now three pregnants and I am glad because in the next six months I will drinking my own milk. Initially, I used to depend on casual labor and poultry farming in order to buy milk. I have saved the remaining part of the money to await the next transfers for improvement of my house.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am aspiring to own a dairy cow in case I qualify to get the transfer from Give Directly. Not having a reliable source of income and raising children single handedly is an uphill task. My plan is to buy a dairy cow of approximately Kenya shillings 30,000 in order to support my 2 children. I will be able to sell the milk in the nearby shopping centre and earn extra coin in order to meet education expenses of my child who is joining university. Therefore, receiving this money mean an increased source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since I am just a housewife, my day entails doing household chores in the morning and later go to work my garden of 0.3 acre piece of land. I will work there until late in the evening after watering and harvesting some for dinner. Evening is the only free time I have to rest as I chat with my children which also makes the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. Even though I have 0.3 acre piece of land where I have grown sweet potatoes, maize and kales for sale, it is hardly enough to cater my family especially now that I have a son who is joining University. My plan is to venture into dairy farming business as an alternative source of income with a projection of earning Kenya shillings 250 a day to supplement from what I get from farming. This will help in improving the life of my family and I will be grateful to Give Directly.
