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 ($522 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before GiveDirectly sent my transfers, my bedding were old torn and the mattresses for my children and ours were thin therefore my family and I had uncomfortable nights. Although I did manually work to earn a living the incoming was little and could barely sustain all my family's needs, However, when I received money from GiveDirectly, I bought a mattress and new bedding. Now we have enough rest all through the night , as a result , I personally feel productive all through the day. Furthermore , making it easier for me to provide for my household especially when supporting my family with daily needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did awesome on community entry it adhered to the key steps such as putting baraza's which was very helpful in reducing misconception that village members had about GiveDirectly association with cult institutions . It also conducted door to door visits on enrollment which brought out the real picture of poverty in our area hence its staffs selected on households that were genuinely poor. I do not have an idea of what GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the larger part of my second transfer to buy three goats worth 22,000 KES . I feel this is a good investment since goats need less resources to rear and can survive in the dry conditions since at times the climate of our area always changes . I bought food for my family's consumption . The remaining amount I have saved to pay university fees for my son who is yet to graduate unless he settles all the arrears he has .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I am happy that I now have goats. These are the greatest assets in my homestead. Before the coming of GiveDirectly, I had none. I previously did not have anything to rely on in case of a financial emergency. When I received this transfer, I bought seven goats. I chose to buy them because they are not expensive to maintain. They are also efficient and readily available in case there is an urgent need to address any financial challenge. Very soon they will multiply and increase in number. To me owning this livestock is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had woken up early in the morning and I was already having my morning devotion when I heard a message alert on my phone. I was curious to know who could have sent the message at that hour. I felt happy and my day was brightened again by this good news. I remember praying to thank God for sending GiveDirectly to my home. Nobody could have given such a huge amount of money without conditions.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I have always desired to own large herds of cattle. Having livestock to me is a form of saving for the future. They usually come in handy when emergencies occur. When I received my first transfer, my dream was fulfilled because I spent KES 20000 to purchase seven goats to keep in my homestead. Goats are easy to maintain and to feed and my expectation is that they will reproduce and increase in number. I am planning to sell the offsprings in future and start doing business. In addition to this, I also spent a portion of the transfer to invest in farming. I hired oxen to plough my farm. Part of it was used to pay labor and used the rest to cater for other household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
With a background and passion in veterinary work and farming, my plan is to rear indigenous goats that will be my financial security for future needs such as food, medication since am more prone to diseases due to my old age etc. I prefer goats for their resilience in drought as they can go for a couple of days without consuming a lot of water. They are easy to treat when sick unlike cows whose diseases are a bit complicated and expensive to treat. Goats multiply faster as they give birth twice a year compared to cows who do it once a year. They are also very marketable and more affordable as they cost as little as 1,500 shillings unlike cows which go for 13,000 shillings and above. Secondly, l would also like to buy furniture like chairs and curtains for my new house that my sister built for me. Lastly, I will save the remaining amount in my bank account till I get a good business venture that I can invest in.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I love mornings because this is when am most busy, am either working in the farm or running errands or visiting farmers to offer advice on livestock.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In the year 2000, I lost my job as a veterinary officer working with the Kenyan Government. It is also around the same time that my wife abandoned our marriage due to the financial challenges we were going through at the time. With no other option at the moment, I resolved to move back to the village where I practise farming and offer advice to livestock owners so I can earn some income. Life in the village has been tough with persistent water shortage due to low and unreliable rainfall resulting in poor yields. It is my sister who always comes to my aid by offering me food and other basic needs such as the house she recently built for me after many nights in the cold when the old one collapsed.
