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
53010 KES ($388 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Raising a family single-handedly is somewhat stressful and draining as well, for it requires some resilience and determination. As a result, I hope to venture further into the extensive grocery and second-hand clothing businesses by utilizing the profits from them. Additionally, I hope to own a 0.1-acre piece of land in the neighborhood so as to settle with my family of two. Although I paid for the land we currently live on, I am concerned that it has some unsettled family disputes, and I am afraid my family of two cannot establish itself here. I plan on utilizing the $3000 savings from the transfers in addition to the profits I will have accumulated from the business that my family depends on.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Whoever said money buys happiness was absolutely right. I have attested to this through the transfers, since my life has changed completely and I am uplifted. Previously, I was in debt as I was trying to make ends meet. I am glad that GiveDirectly has uplifted my community's lives, and now everybody's lives have changed tremendously. I never wish them to change their way of working but rather replicate it in other communities in the country.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Even though I am a single parent, I have to fully provide for the basic needs of my family, such as food, shelter, and education. My last born son sat for his primary examination last year and passed well. He was then admitted to grade 9 at a different school, and I had to fully cater to his school uniform and school fees. I am glad that the transfers came in handy, as I spent $170 on uniforms and an additional $60 on paying for term one school fees. For the rest of the transfers, I saved towards the purchase of a 0.1-acre piece of land that I wish to own once I get enough money since the current land we live on is under some family dispute and I fear my family of two might be thrown out at any time. I have not been able to save enough money since the profits I earn from the grocery and second-hand clothes businesses all cater to food for the household, and I have no surplus as savings.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($419 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I got a message from GiveDirectly confirming the receipt of my first transfer, I had my phone with me at my grocery shop where I usually work. Later that day, I went home to meet my children who I shared the exciting news with and told my trustee, Felix, about the good news as well. However, it was already late in the evening, so I couldn't withdraw any money. I planned to withdraw the next day with the help of my trustee since the account I was using was registered under his identification card.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since I began receiving my initial payment from GiveDirectly, my household has witnessed significant changes that would have been impossible without the financial assistance. The most notable differences in my daily life have been the expansion of my grocery business and the ability to pay for my child's education. Previously, I had to rely on a small vegetable business to cover both household expenses and school fees. However, with the cash support, I have been able to invest in my business, resulting in higher profits that I can use to pay for other significant bills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the funds, I refrained from making any withdrawals on the same day as I wanted to inform my family first. I returned home and celebrated the good news with them. During the enrollment process, I had an trustee who also acted as my helper since I lacked the national identification number which is required during SIM registration. Unfortunately, this individual had malicious intentions and transferred $400 as soon as the money was in to a different account, leaving me with only $150. I have been attempting to locate the individual as I had previously cared for him when he was younger. Out of the remaining funds, I spent $50 on my son's school fees and $20 on a school uniform. The rest of the money was used to enhance my grocery business and to purchase household supplies for my family of four. Unfortunately, due to the loss of funds, I was unable to pursue other projects I had planned, such as completing payment for the piece of land I currently reside on. Nonetheless, I remain optimistic that my dreams will come true as I still have one more payment to make.
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I am happy that GiveDirectly has enrolled us in this program and my priority will be to clear school fee balance for the remainder period of my children's studies. They will have seamless learning and I'll no longer be worried that they might drop out of school. This will cost about $600 and for the remaining about $400 I will consider buying a 0.1-acre piece of land to enable us to produce our food thus cutting the costs that go into buying foodstuff daily.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Recently when we were in the electioneering period, I was so worried about the outcome of the general election that chaos and disharmony in the country would come up but I was happy everything went well and peace prevailed. This gave me confidence that casual jobs that I depend on wouldn't be affected.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widow and a mother of 2 teenage boys Felix and Brian, one of them just joined college and the other one is in high school. Their father unfortunately died 13 years ago and he was the breadwinner in the family. He, therefore, left me with the burden of providing for the family and paying school fees for the children. It was not tough initially when these boys were still in primary school but things changed when the firstborn joined high school. I was all over sudden needed to pay $200 annually for his school fees. The second born also joined high 2 years later and the school fees rose to $400 annually. This was an amount I could not afford since I depend on casual jobs in the village that can pay me $3 a day only. I had to sell a portion of the land to pay for them and we remained with less than a quarter of an acre, literally where our house is built now is the only land we own. We are therefore facing challenges in food production because we cannot produce our own we have to buy everything. We cannot keep livestock also which are deemed assets when you have them. This has therefore made me depend fully on casual jobs to provide for the family. As we progress also the money we got from the land sale is depleting and they have not finished their studies so I have been worried that they might eventually drop out of school.
