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 ($473 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have a new goal that I didn't had before receiving the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well buy giving money to the poor in the community to build better house 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 money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing a solar system for lighting the house. I am so happy because now my children can do there homework well. I purchased a fencing wire and fenced my compound. This to prevent cows from destroying my crops. I paid school fees for my daughter who is in secondary school. I am grateful because she is now studying well without being sent home. I plough my farm and bought fertilizers and seeds ready for planting. The rest of the money I used it to dig a latrine and bought food and clothes for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I was taking care of my cows. Since I do not know how to read I decided to called my daughter to check it for me. I felt so happy when I was inform that it's a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. We really celebrated with my daughter. I knew I would be able to buy a water tank and stopped the long distance walk to collect the water from the river. We went and withdrew the money the same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a water tank. I used to walk for a long distance to collect clean water for drinking. This was so tiresome and time consuming. Due to my age I was not able to do this alone. I had always wished to buy a water tank. I didn't had the money to buy one. I depend on small scale farming at home. The amount of money that I get from the sales of my farm produce is so small. I had no other source of income. Currently I have bought a water tank and I collect clean water from the rain. I no longer get worried on who to collect the water for me. I have enough time to cultivate my farm and even do other chores at home. I have water to spray my vegetables. This has given me peace of mind and even energy to do my work comfortably.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 22,000 to purchased a water tank. This has enabled me to store clean water for drinking and domestic use. I no longer walk for that long distance to collect clean water. I paid KES 12,000 school fees for my daughter who is in secondary school. She was able to study well without being sent home. I purchased a fencing wire and fenced my compound. I bought sofa set seats and food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We live in a semi-arid area and for the longest time water for use has been a problem to us ,we go for long distance to fetch water especially when there is drought.I am a livestock farmer and they need enough water in order to produce enough milk.It means that when there is no water i get few litres of milk to sell hence will not be enough to purchase food and pay school fees for my two children in secondary school.I want to buy a 3000 litres tanks worth $300 to secure rain water and divide the grazing area into four using 4 barbed wires at $500 each this will ensure i have enough pasture for the cows. The rest of the money i will pay school fees for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am always happy in the morning because i look forward to having a productive day ahead to go and fend for my children knowing that they depend on me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Where i live is semi-arid and it is prone to drought. Most of the time we do not have a harvesting season as maize does not do well so we are forced to buy food especially maize which is our staple food.