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?
Through the transfers, I got the capital to start a fruits business that is doing well. From the proceeds, I am planning to start a hotel business which will be an additional income source for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
According to me, GiveDirectly does everything well. This is because every household in our village was enrolled.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly, I used to rely on charcoal burning to feed my family and school my children as well. In a day, I could get KES 500 a day and this wasn't sufficient for my three kids. So when I received GiveDirectly transfers, I used KES 2000 on food and this has helped reduce household expenditures. I also spent KES 4,000 on a mattress and nowadays I sleep perfectly well and the rest I spent KES 3,000 on a door.
Secondly, I used KES 20,000 on payment of my medical bill. I also spent KES 10,000 on five goats because they are a major source of livelihood in our area.
Additionally, when I received my first transfer I used part of it as capital to start a fruits business. So when I received my second transfer I spent KES 5000 on the addition of more stock for my fruits business.
The remainder, I have saved for the addition of more stock for my business.
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 just taking a walk, I received a message in my phone. Upon checking it was the first transfer from GiveDirectly of KES 55000.00. I was excited knowing that my pending medical issues were going to be taken care of.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest concern was my health and I can attest that, if it were not for GiveDirectly, I wouldn’t have managed. I also managed to get some goats which was my desire and I had no means of getting them till the GiveDirectly transfer came; thus I can say I am rearing goats because of the organization.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first thing that I made priority was my health status. Since I had some stomach problems, I went to hospital for some examination and medication which cost KES 20000.00. Thereafter, I bought 7 goats for KES 28000.00 because it was my desire to invest in livestock. Having settled the two major concerns I took the remaining amount and 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 starting a business. Over the the years, I have been depending on subsistence farming. However, due to the prolonged drought, farming has become impossible. This has made life more difficult for me and my family. However, life has to continue. I had to do something else to put food on the table. Currently, I depend on charcoal burning business that earns me less than 2000 KES a week, which is not enough to save and meet my basic needs. This business is not reliable since there are no more trees for charcoal burning. This makes life more difficult. My ambition has been to start and run a hotel in the village that will help me earn an income on a daily basis. This business will cost me 40,000 KES. This will help me achieve my goal for food security.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My typical day begins at 6 am. I usually leave in the morning for charcoal burning business. I walk for two and a half hours to reach there. I then rest and start digging the tree trunks the while day. I then come back home at 5pm very tired. Upon arriving, I take a warm bath then cook and eat food with my spouse. During this time, we story tell and laugh which brings joy to my heart. This makes me long for evenings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced. Imagine being raised up knowing that the only thing you can do to put food on the table is subsistence farming and then all over a sudden, drought hits your village. This is the current situation that I am currently facing. This has made me shift from subsistence farming to charcoal burning business. However, this business is illegal, but because it is the only means for survival, I have no choice. Everyone in the villages does this and this has made our land look like a desert where all trees have been cut down. Getting trees is very difficult and now we dig the tree trunk to burn for charcoal burning. Soon all the tree trunks will be gone. My ambition has been to be self employed where I run my own legal business. This will help me get food security and save for my future.
