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 ($530 USD)
access_time over 5 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 now different in that the quality of my family's life improved. I now have some extra money that even when I do not get any casual jobs, I can still feed my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly has done well in enabling my children to stay in school without being sent home for school fees, and also I now have livestock of my own.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my transfers to purchase goats, to pay school fees for my children, to repay some debts that I had and to cater for some household items for my house like meals. I bought four goats as a source of emergency funding in future. I hope that these goats can procreate and be a source of finances in future whereby I can sell them whenever I am in any financial emergency or crisis. I work as a casual laborer at construction sites, while my wife is currently expectant and not in any employment. I was grateful for the transfers as I was also able to pay school fees for my children in school, as well as purchase household items such as meals.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($550 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Acquiring the goats is the biggest difference to me as I will keep them as my own assets and through them, I will be saving for the future of my children education. I know that once they reproduce and increase in number I will be able to sell them in case of any financial problem that requires a lot of money.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy and thankful to GiveDirectly for the large sum of money that they sent to me for to buy another I would be able to accomplish my own plans that I had and they had failed due to financial constraints.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
It has always been my desire to own livestock for these are the assets that one can boast of owning in our area. Through livestock, then even the future of the children's education is catered for. and because of this, I spent of the transfer to buy a bull and a cow. I am expecting to get milk from my cow and I will no longer be buying from neighbours for it is costly. I am planning to buy another bull so that they can make a pair to help me in doing my farming effectively and efficiently. in addition to these, I also bought four goats so as to boost my assets base of livestock. Through them, I will be able to provide a good education for the collateral. On the remaining amount, I did some shopping for my children who were going back to school after the holiday. and bought food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I rely mostly on casual jobs such as mixing cement and sand at construction sites. This is quite unreliable because it is not permanent and I only do it less than ten days in a month. The income is insufficient since I am the only bread winner and I earn less than 10,000 shillings a month. I am planning to revive my livestock business which I was doing earlier but I stopped due to lack of enough capital. This business will generate more income that will meet food and educational needs for my family. Through the profit, I will also purchase oxen that I will use to plough my land to enhance food security and also for commercial purposes to improve my financial stability.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a casual labourer I do not have a stable job to attend to everyday. This brings a lot of uncertainties in my life that worry me because I lack sustainable means to provide for my family. However, I am mostly happy in the morning because this is the time I receive calls from friends and clients to hire me in their farms or construction sites. Therefore, the morning gives me hope of getting a job to earn some income.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability is my biggest hardship. I am not able to respond to medical emergencies for my family. I almost lost my wife in April this year when she was suffering from malaria and typhoid, because I had no money to take her to hospital. When the situation got worse I took her to a village private hospital, but I could not raise the bill of 2000 shillings and I had to use my national identity card as a collateral since she was treated on credit. Besides this, my children are often sent back home from school because I cannot raise the 3000 shillings to cater for educational costs. I am also unable to provide enough food and clothing for my family.
