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 ($490 USD)
access_time over 3 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 different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I have been able to purchase my own piece of land and I also have a heifer. I am now glad since I know that very soon, I won't be buying milk anymore as it is almost calving. Also, my wife has started planting some vegetables in our land and I am glad that this has enabled us reduce our daily expenditure as we no longer buy them.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by changing people's life through giving them financial aid and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I bought a heifer worth KES 14000. I decided on this so that when it reproduces, it will save me the hustle of buying milk on a daily basis. I spent the remaining amount to build a house for my family. I had bought a piece of land using my first transfer and saw it necessary to build a house there so that I would relocate. I settled on this since our family land is small and one cannot practice even small scale farming like growing vegetables.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was filled with lots of happiness when I received the message saying I had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I informed my family of the good news and we all celebrated. We felt that our dreams had become true because we were now going to be able to achieve what we have always wanted to do. Thank you GiveDirectly for this program that you thought of starting of helping the needy. May God bless you abundantly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having bought a cow with part of this transfer, we will now be able to have milk for our consumption and sale. My family will thus be having milk to drink and the money from the sales will enable us to have some income that we can use on other important things. The land that I bought with part of the transfer, will enable us to have a piece of land that we can till and get food. My family will thus have something to eat and we will be able to sell part of the farm produce and get money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer from GiveDirectly has helped me in buying a cow and I have been able to finish paying for a piece of land that I had bought. I did not have my cow, the cows that are there are for the whole family and I had that desire to have my own. I have also always wanted another piece of land where I can farm and eventually soon move to. The piece of land that is at home, has become small because the population has grown. There is, therefore, no more land to till. The reason why I was not able to do the above was that I lacked the money, the little money that I have been making from the work that I do, is usually just enough to cater to the basic needs of the family like food. With this cow, we will be able to have milk for our consumption and sale. I have started tilling the land and I plan to plant some crops in it. The yields from these crops will act as a source of food for my family and we will be able to sell part of it.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a young family that solely depend on me. I have been regularly purchasing milk from my neighbours for domestic use. I intend to use 600USD to buy two dairy cattle so as to supplement my family with milk for both domestic and commercial use. I will then sell the surplus milk to our local dairy shop in the nearby market center. Additionally, I will use the remaining transfer to renovate and furnish my house that is nearing completion.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a motorcycle rider, I spend most of my day manouvering along the roads in search of potential customers to carry. My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I have a productive day meaning I have enough money from the customers to use it to fend for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Raising my young family of three with no regular source of income has been my biggest hardship. I am a motorcycle rider operating in the village setting where people mostly walk by foot to their areas of interest. So getting a customer is quite difficult and the few you find pay less. The proceeds I get is hardly enough to fend for my family's needs not to mention that I buy almost all the basic necessities.