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 ($527 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Give Directly transfer enabled me to pay for the remaining amount of debt I had remained with when purchasing land that is not so far from where I am staying currently. Through their help, I rightfully own the land. I can now use the land that I have been paying on purchase. Paying this amount has saved me from hiring land for farming. This will definitely boost my income since I will have saved my expenses since I will no longer be hiring land.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly was very fair and transparent. They visited everyone in this village since they moved from house to house. I like how confidential they were since they never discussed the households they went to. I admire their maturity in how they carried out their projects. I don't see anything that they didn't do right.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying a piece of land. The money was sent to clear a debt I had acquired with the intention to buy this piece of land. I know it could have taken me long to clear the debt were it not for give GiveDirectly to choose me as one of their beneficiaries. I know I can make progress and achieve many development goals with the help of this asset. It can act as collateral whenever I take loans to start income-generating activities.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($540 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a decent sofa set seats for my new house. I used to have worn out seats which I transferred from the previous house to a new house. I had always wished to have new seats for the new house that I had built earlier because I received the transfer. I used to live in a small house before and the seats that I had were so dusty and worn out. Moving these seats to my new house was not good because it makes the house not to look smart. I depend on the small scale farming and casual jobs in the village. The small amount of money that I get was only for the basic needs, I could not get the money to buy seats. Currently, I have bought decent new seats for the new house and everything looks smart like I had wished before. Whenever I have visitors I do not shy away to welcome them because I know everything is in order. I am so much grateful for this big change.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my money I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I remember it was very early in the morning around 6:00 AM when I heard a message from my phone. When I checked it, I could not believe it I thought it was just a prank. I just ignored the message and went to prepare breakfast for my children. When I came back I found another message from GiveDirectly confirming that they have sent me a sum of 55000 KES. I check my Mpesa balance and surely it was true. I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to buy decent seats for my new house. My spouse and children really celebrated the good news.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer on buying sofa set seats. I had always wished to have decent seats for my new house. I also used some amount to renovate my house to look decent and the rest of the money I used it to buy food and clothes for my family members.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I can buy better furniture for my house. This is a plan I have been yearning to meet but has postponed it severally due to an incessant need for my children's school fees. Equipping my living room with better seats is going to boost my esteem to host guests and friends more often.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part is at end of the evening when I evaluate the day's activities. I am usually home alone with children in school and my husband away at work. During the day I would juggle between cultivating my beans farm and feeding livestock in the afternoon, to milking them in the evening.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have umpteen bills to pay in my house. However when my mother in law was diagnosed with diabetes and blood pressure, my husband and I were her only hope to meet her medication. Sometimes my husband would be under moral obligation to take a loan to suffice the same. At most times, this is too much pressure on our farming proceeds as well as his paltry pay slip that we yield to her comfort at the expense of our household needs. I only hope he recuperate so we can have peace.
