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 ($443 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would like to marry this year, I did not get the opportunity to get a wife due to a lack of dowry money. Earlier on I had wanted to marry but the parent asked for $1500 which I have never had my entire life. They refused to give me a wife saying I should pay first.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
When the officers visit me at my home, I feel happy. They are polite and very respectful to me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before the transfer, I was in charcoal production. In a month, If I am lucky I would get $40 that helped me buy food for the entire month, But some days I am not lucky and I would not sell and come back home and sleep on an empty stomach. I am a seventy-five years old man, I did not get the chance to marry a wife or a get baby due to lack of dowry money. Receiving this transfer enabled me to buy a bicycle that helps me go fetch water, previous I would walk for two hours just to find water. I bought the bicycle for $40. I also decided to buy two cows each at $450 that I am hoping to reproduce and get more cows for commercial purposes and sell them at $700 each. Meanwhile, one cow produces milk for domestic purposes.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 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 early in the morning and I had woken up to face my day when I switched on my phone and a message popped up. I noticed it was a cash transfer message but I couldn't read it all until I opened it. Wow! I had received my first transfer and I was so happy that I was going to fulfill my plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
So far, there hasn't been much of a difference but after receiving the next transfer, I will be able to bring my companion home and start a family. That will be the biggest achievement of my life and I will be forever grateful to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My father passed away when I was young and I took responsibility of taking care of my siblings because my mother was then a housewife and couldn't do much to pay bills. I left home and went to the city where I worked as a casual labourer for many years and supported my siblings until they became independent. I never had a chance to marry and have family because I didn't have the financial capability to take care of my siblings and family of my own. City life was challenging because I didn't have a stable job and the responsibilities were overwhelming and at some point, I got into depression and drugs. After a long search, my siblings were able to get me back home and I recovered from the depression. Since then, I have wanted to marry and have a family but although I found someone, I couldn't afford to pay dowry for her. Being enrolled in the program was a perfect opportunity for me to pay dowry, marry and settle down. I saved all my first transfer so that I can add my second transfer and pay dowry.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means self-respect to me. I am a 72 years old single man. For the longest time, I have desired to have my own family but poverty has made it impossible. This has been a source of ridicule to me. For me to have a wife, I approximately need to have 20,000 KES. With my charcoal burning occupation, making such an amount is impractical. I intend to use 30,000 KES of the money I will receive as dowry for a wife. Having a companion will improve my social life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In mid-January this year, I sold five sacks of charcoal. I made 3,000 KES. It was one of my highest incomes since I started charcoal burning. Frankly, I was overjoyed. It is almost a month later and the money is still sustaining me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Loneliness has been increasing my stress level from time to time. I am 72 years old and I neither have a wife nor children. Family is an agent of socialization. Lacking it has made me lose the required respect I need to have as a man.
