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 ($438 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Farming is the foundation of our livelihood. I am currently focusing my efforts on improving both subsistence and livestock farming. I have been working on improving the temporary dairy shed I had after purchasing an additional heifer as part of my second transfer. I require a roofed structure with more space for all of the dairy animals in my field, as well as a room to store their feed. On the other hand, I am currently monitoring subsistence crops on my farm in the hopes of receiving some rain that will allow flowering to occur.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Everyone in our village is pleased with the changes brought about by the cash transfer that we received and spent on whatever we saw fit. They did not limit our cash assistance to what we needed to do in our households. They delivered everything we expected, from enrollment to the final transfer, because no one missed the transfer after enrolling in the program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I currently have two sons in school, one at the university level and the other in secondary school. Paying their school fees has been a difficult task. The transfer from GiveDirectly was such a boost that I used $290 from the second transfer to cover the entire semester for my son in college. At the time, he had not received the student loan he had requested, and I was unsure whether he would receive it in time for him to take his exam. I also used $150 of the remaining funds to purchase a heifer in addition to three cows, with the goal of increasing milk production and, as a result, income to pay household bills and school fees for my two sons in the future. I also purchased a sack of dry maize grains for $60, as well as a bag of rice with the remaining funds that we used for food. I appreciate your assistance.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 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 around 4:00 pm relaxing at home when I received a text message. Having not got formal education, I called my son to help me read the message and it was then that he informed of the receipt of the first transfer. I was so excited as that was my first time to get hold of such an amount of money. My son was equally happy and we both celebrated.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Our lives have improved since we started receiving the transfers. This is because we no longer skip meals since we stocked enough food for the family. Besides that, the milk production has increased and now we have more for sale. Previously, I used to purchase animal feeds and this was not only expensive but at times when the feeds were not available, the livestock would either miss feeding or feed late. This resulted in low milk production, but I am glad we do not face such challenges anymore because I bought a chuff cutter that has enabled me to process their feeds in advance. They, therefore, enough feed and also feed on time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the many plans that we had before receiving the transfers, we prioritized clearing the university fee arrears of KES 15000 for our son who is in his third year. This has relieved us of the burden. Being the first time to hold such an amount of money, we had to improve our bedding as a remembrance of the transfers. I, therefore, spent KES 15000 to purchase 3 beds and 3 mattresses one for my spouse, daughters, and me. The previous bedding we owned was not in a bad state, but we just needed something new and more comfortable to celebrate the receipt of the transfers. We later divided the remaining transfers into different projects which include; purchasing a chaff cutter at KES 5000 and using the rest on both my children's clothes and enough foodstuff, mostly dry food to sustain our family for a good period.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a restoration of a life ravaged by seemingly unbreakable cycles of poverty. I have lived a very difficult life since my childhood because my parents were not well off and they never knew the value of education so they never took me to school. I believe that this poverty cycle would have been broken only if I had gotten a good education. This has prompted me to provide the best education to my children and at the moment three of them are pursuing their university education. This is so costly because I have to spend KES. 60,000 annually and I have even sold family to meet this demand. It gives me a lot of satisfaction to see all of them in school rather than to spare the family land and have them remain at home without an education. I will therefore use these transfers to pay their annual school fees for this academic year and I will then focus on the next which is the final one comfortably without having to worry a little.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I depend on agriculture mostly and rain determines our practices a lot. I am therefore happy that there has been consistent rainfall this year which has allowed us to plant a variety of crops.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Having three children in college is draining financially. It is so challenging for me to raise all the needed school fees and at the same time meet their basic needs. I was lucky to have a good size of land which I have partially sold to meet the needs but I am concerned again about their younger siblings. My hope anyway is that by the time they get to pursue their higher education their elder siblings will have gotten employment income and therefore pay for them.
