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?
My life is different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because I now earn income from my transportation business. I use my donkeys to ferry goods from one destination to another and I at times lease it to someone I trust that he can take good care of them. Due to this, I have been able to pay my children's school fees on time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving us financial support that we were able to use to uplift our living standards and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I spent part of it to buy some building materials. I am intending to use these materials to build a more permanent house for my family. I had bought a donkey using my first transfer and when I received the second transfer, I bought another donkey so as to make it a pair. I will be using this pair for transportation purposes in our locality. Also, I spent some amount to bug a heifer. I believe that it will be calving soon and my family will have enough milk for our consumption. I spent the remaining amount to pay school fees for my children who had been sent back home.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time 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 financed my compound to look decent and to ensure that my cow are enclosed. I used to get many complains from my neighbors because my cows used to destroy their crops. This was bringing daily conflicts which led to misunderstanding and poor relations between us. I depend on small scale farming to earn an income. The money I could get through this was a small amount of money which could not enable me to buy wire for fencing. I could look after the cows and this was preventing me from doing other chores at home. When I received my first transfer I fenced all the compounds. Nowadays I no longer get complains from my neighbors that my cows had destroyed their crops, we have started to relate so well and we are living happily together. I have enough time to attend to other activities at home. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has made me relate well with my neighbors and we share a lot with them.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when you received your 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 when I was checking my phone as usual. I got a message confirming that I have received 55000 Ksh from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy. I immediately inform my spouse and children and they were so happy and we really celebrated that very morning.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy poles and wire and fenced my compound to look so decent, I also bought, bed, farm inputs, clothes, food, sky blast, layers marsh, pay workers, a wire mesh planning to build a poultry house and the rest of the money I used it to buy a donkey for transport.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that i will be able to actualize my plan of fencing my 1½ Acre piece of land into paddocks so that i will be able to restrict my cattle from grazing all over the compound which will ensure more grass growth hence sufficient feeds and more milk production. On the other hand, i also plan to build a poultry unit to keep my poultry since the 10 chicken i have currently sleep in the kitchen together with my children which has been a health hazard to my children due to the foul smell from poultry waste.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a housewife, my daily routine involves cutting nappier grass for my cattle in the morning and fetching them enough water for the day, after which i do my household chores in the afternoon. I am always happy in the evening since its the time i take rest as i wait for my children and spouse to come back from school and work respectively.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Poor harvests due to unreliable rainfall patterns has been the greatest challenge we face in our family. Initially, farming was our main source of income since we used to sell most our produce unlike currently whereby we buy all the foodstuffs. My spouse who operates motorcycle taxi spends all his daily wages in buying food for the family as well as providing other basic needs hence we do not see ourselves engaging in other development plans in future.