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 ($466 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I had already pledged to myself these goals before receiving this second transfer, which was buying a motorcycle that I was going to operate as a taxi. I had wanted to do this all along because I didn't have much of a job as I depended on my charcoal burning and selling business which hardly raised enough even to help me meet my family's immediate needs. Therefore, with this motorcycle, I have an opportunity to earn regular income and address the little challenges that my family faces especially in getting food regularly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the program was so good and nothing went wrong. The promises made to us at the census and registration stages were kept and it gave so many of us some very good memories and testimonies. So many people got to address their challenges, and this unconditional cash transfer is the best because we all didn't have the same priorities in as far as the challenges we were facing are concerned. So, according to me, we are very grateful and there's no blames or complaints about the program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 35000 on buying a secondhand motorcycle because I had pledged to myself to get it with this second transfer because I didn't have a job and the charcoal burning and selling business was so tedious and tiresome as very lonely as I would at times spend the whole day in the forest alone. With this motorcycle, I have a regular source of income as well as a means of helping with household activities like fetching water because with the dry climate of our area, we have to travel very far to get water. Therefore, this motorcycle is very helpful to me and my family. I am also very grateful because this motorcycle relieved me from the tedious and tiresome work of cutting trees to burn charcoal and sell, as well as it gives me the opportunity to meet and interact with other people on a daily basis, get to crack a few jokes which is a luxury that I could never enjoy while in the forest cutting trees. I am so grateful.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At around 10am when I was preparing some tea, I received a message and it wasn’t just a message like the ones I usually receive. This was a good news message confirming that I had received the transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I felt happy such that, I walked out of the kitchen and informed the other family members who were registered to check their phones too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially, I was sleeping in a grass house but now GiveDirectly enabled me to construct a house with an iron sheet roof. I was just seeing these kinds of houses in the neighboring home, but now I own my own house of the same because the organization enabled me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I was living in a grass thatched house, I opted to construct a good medium-sized permanent house. I used KES 35000.00 to buy the construction materials as well as building the house. I also paid school fees and bought school uniforms for my children. For the remaining amount, I bought some food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an improved standard of living for me and my daughter. My priority is replacing the roof to my house which is grass thatched. I plan to replace it with an iron sheet roof so as to avoid the leaking during the rainy season. This will cost me KES 25,000. I will also budget KES 30,000 to start a small business of selling second hand clothes. My target is the market days in the various shopping centres within my locality. This will serve a source of income to help me during this tough economic times.
What is the happiest part of your day?
A friend of mine visited me in the month of May and trained me how to operate a motorcycle. This really made me happy since I can now ride well and I have been doing more and more practice. I hope that one day I will buy my own motorcycle so that I can be operating a taxi business as well as ferrying my own goods when I open a business that I am already planning for.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
At the moment, life is very difficult because the sources of income are very limited in this area. Charcoal burning is the only way that I am getting very little income. During the rainy seasons, I used to get money from my farm and casual jobs were available. Currently, the drought is very bad. Everything is costly including food and water because I have to purchase everyday. These are essentials that I cannot do without and all finances are now channeled there. Getting around KES 2,000 in two weeks from charcoal business cannot be enough to cater for all my needs.
