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 ($517 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?
After receiving the transfers, I have achieved to restock my livestock keeping business. I had spent all the money and sold cattle that I had on hospital bills for my wife. I was glad to be able to own livestock again! Cows are important to me when it comes to paying school fees and feeding my family. I could easily raise school fees by selling some of the animals and also from selling milk. The money from GiveDirectly put me back to the position where I can handle my household responsibilities.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did so well by availing phones for us to be able to access the money easily. Most of the people in my village It also did well by teaching people on how to make good choices on how to spend the money
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the money I received on the second transfer buying a dairy cow. I am looking forward to being able to sell milk to make an income. I bought clothes for children too. I then bought them school uniforms. I also purchased foodstuffs for the household.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
We have been living in dull moments all along but now we have rejuvenated our energies. We are now strong, happy and with positive energy in everything we are doing. Not only are we happy as parents but our children who seem to have kept memories can't miss to mention GiveDirectly every time they miss a bread in the morning. They have always asked when GiveDirectly will come back. They are really happy with the impact brought to the family and they are hopeful that GiveDirectly is still part and parcel of our community. We really thank God that things have changed a great deal in our family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Happiness thundered all over when we received the transfer, it was an amazing gesture when GiveDirectly honored the promise they had given us during registration. We celebrated by singing and the chat among the neighbors was full of the laughter of joy. This to us was a mark of transformation from the poverty life we have been living to a new era of development. We had already put the plans in place, ready to invest our transfers in various ways which deemed fit and that is exactly what we did. To date, happiness has never ceased and we are praying hard that the happiness may remain with us even after the last transfer.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
For so many years we have been buying milk and sometimes going without them when we don't have enough money to buy. My children used to take a glass of milk only once a month which I have always been worried that they might contract some diseases due to lack of various minerals in their bodies. When GiveDirectly visited our village, I had promised myself to ensure that I buy them a cow. On receiving the transfer, I went to the market in search of a lactating cow but unfortunately, I never found one, I decided to invest 45000 KES in purchasing three oxen with an intention to sell them later and buy a Friesian cow. I spent part of the remaining in purchasing foodstuff and the rest in buying clothing for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I got married 12 years ago, I have had to part with 1500 KES every month to meet the cost of a liter of milk that I buy every day. Receiving this money means I am going to become a cow owner and milk supplier for the first time in my life. I intend to use my first transfer to buy two milking cows to provide milk for domestic consumption and sale of surplus. This means I will be in a position to save money that would otherwise have gone to milk purchases and proceeds from the new venture to fend for my three children's education and colossal household needs. Moreover upon receiving my second transfer, my plan is to purchase a second hand motorcycle to help me in the efficiency of my charcoal selling business from one point to another. My ambition is to place my family out of poverty one year on from now. Thank you GiveDirectly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My charcoal burning business is demanding. I leave my house before dawn and come back late in the evening. This is the only time I have a good rest because I get to eat and spend time with my family. This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Due to harsh climatic conditions in this area, access to clean and safe water for drinking is a tall order. Our nearest source of water is a nearby river utilised by both humans and livestock. This has constantly posed serious health hazards. In 2014, my wife of 13 years was diagnosed with typhoid and admitted to hospital for a week and doctor's report attributed unclean water as the root cause. I sold the only livestock I had to foot a bill of 30,000 KES. Since then, my worry has been a recurrence of a similar ordeal due to lack of unsafe drinking water.
