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 ($526 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 children would not have been able to sit for their examinations had it not have been for the transfers that I received. This would have left them devastated since they are almost through with their college education. As a parent, I would not be a happier knowing well that my children missed their examinations because I could not get money to use in paying their school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving us a good training about the organization and also equipped us with knowledge on farming.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my most recent transfer to pay school fees for my son in college. I settled on this since they had been informed that those with arrears would not sit for their end of semester examinations and I had no other money to use in paying these arrears. Also, I spent some amount to buy some timber to use in building a kitchen for my family. I used the remaining amount to buy food and other basic needs for my family after saving KES 5000.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I thank GiveDirectly for their financial support. I had lived a stressful life since I felt I was not in a position to support my family. I had nothing to own as assets in my homestead and the scarce resources could not allow me to acquire any. Having a dairy cow and clearing for my child's school fees to me is a great change in my life. I am the happiest person now since I believe that once my dairy cow will be calving soon and it will increase in number. I am assured that I will be able to sell the offsprings in the future to support my family's needs and any financial need arising such as educating my children. I will soon have milk for both sales and household consumption thus will have some money to save unlike now where I only spend.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning after waking up when I heard my neighbors saying that they had received transfers from GiveDirectly. Upon checking my Mpesa balance, I became so happy upon realizing that I was also among those who had received the money. I knew that I would be able to achieve so many things using this money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I used half of it to buy a dairy cow. I had sold all the cows I once had to pay school fees for my children. Also, I bought a barbed wire, poles and nails to use in fencing a cowshed. I also paid the labor for this work. I currently have a dairy cow and have an easy time looking after it since I have fenced my grazing land. I cleared school fees for my daughter so that she would be able to study well without any interference. I used the remaining amount to buy two sacks of maize flour, decent clothes and beddings for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Due to lack of money for school fees,I have sold all the cattle I had.With Give Directly coming in now,I will now start over dairy farming again.I will start with buying one dairy cow.The cow will help in providing milk for consumption and for sale.My second plan is building a decent kitchen.The one I have is grass thatched.The rest of the money will help me pay school fees.I have two children in college and another in secondary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My first duty in the morning is cleaning the house and the utensils.This is after having breakfast.I then go my farm where I have grown maize and sorghum.I spend time in the farm till noon where I come back home to prepare lunch.In the afternoon I go and fetch firewood and later on food for supper.Evening is the happiest part of my day since I have every reason to thank God for seeing me through the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Raising up my children is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life.It was a big hardship especially when my husband was a drunkard.For very many years upto 5 years ago I had to put up with my spouse's behaviour.It was a challenge since all his labour went into drinking.We struggled in providing basic needs for our children.This stress led to hypertension and I currently have High blood pressure.I am glad that now he is a saved man but I still remain with the scars of those many years of a stressful life.
