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 ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 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 if I never received the transfers in that I have bought a piece of land. I do small scale farming and sometimes do casual jobs in the village. The amount of money that I get through this is so small and cannot meet all the basic needs of the family. I had no extra money to save to buy a piece of land. When I received the second transfer I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to buy a land. Currently I own a piece of land, I have plough and ready to do horticulture farming. I am planning to plant beans and potatoes. I will get enough food for the family after the harvest. I will also sell the surplus at the market to earn an income to meet other household items. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me to own a piece of land. This could have taken quite some time to get it. I have hope that I will save some money to buy another piece of land. This has motivated me to work harder and ensure that my family get all the needs. I will also be able to pay school fees for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the second transfer I received from GiveDirectly on buying a piece of land. I will be in a position to do horticulture farming and get enough food for the family. I saved some amount of money for emergencie. The rest or the money I spent on food and clothes for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard and given us hope to work much easier.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the good news from my wife that the transfer we had been waiting for after enrolment was finally in. At that moment, I was so excited and although I was not so sure whether it was true since I had left the phone with her, I had to trust her. That marked the end of my day on the casual work I was doing as I could not hold on to it anymore. I dashed home to celebrate the good news with my family
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The old-looking home we lived in before the transfer has a completely new look at the moment. There had been a great transformation that we never imagined would ever be and has marked the biggest difference in my daily life. The presence of livestock on our farm that has been consistently providing us with enough milk for all our domestic purposes is just unbelievable. Everyone feels good after throwing away all the old clothing which was torn to tatters into the trash as we bought at least a new pair for everyone. It's been a new and promising turning point for me, and many expectations are still up as I am looking forward to the second transfer. I am grateful to GiveDirectly as this would not have been possible without the transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I got married several years ago, buying milk had been a routine in my household. This has cost me a lot as no day ever passed without paying with at least 50KES specifically for milk. With the growing family, life had been getting harder and harder each day in but I am grateful that GiveDirecrly came in.
On receiving the first transfer, bringing in a how was a priority as had been agreed by each member of my household. It never mattered how much its cost was. With the 25000KES, I bought a good breed of lactating cow. Currently, it is all smiles from my children as they can afford to take a cup of mixed tea every morning before leaving for school. With the remaining amount, I spread it over clothing, foodstuff, and managed to save some to be checking on and replenishing any arising need in the household. I am happy that my children feel good in their new uniforms and no longer feeling inferior before their beers.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a roadmap to financial freedom in my household. We are jobless and have been struggling to make ends meet through farming. We have 1 acre of land which we have grown maize solely for domestic use. In this piece of land, we harvest approximately 6 bags which not enough to cater to a family of 5 and thus no surplus for sale. We are therefore planning to buy a dairy cow which costs approximately Ksh 20,000. Our projection is to milk approximately 5 liters a day. Out of this, we will sell 3 liters at Ksh 45 per liter and the remaining 2 liters, will be used domestically. This will be a stepping stone to our financial freedom.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Getting up in the morning and being informed that there is casual work to do, is the happiest part of my day. My normal day entails looking for casual work to do within the village which is hard to get. Having work to do rejuvenates my life knowing my family won't go to bed empty stomach. This also fulfills my duties as a caring parent.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial inadequacy has been the biggest hardship we have faced in life. The little we get from our farming activities (6 bags of maize), is hardly enough to cater for a family of 5 and for educating my 2 School going children. Because of this, I at times look for any casual work within the village which is also hard to get earning a wage of Ksh 200 a day. This cash will be used for other household expenses. Thanks to Give Directly for the support we are about to receive which will be a sigh of relief for my family.
