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
55000 KES ($477 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am so much restrained in terms of what I can do and how far I can reach because of my current situation. It is for this reason that I have had the desire and now planning to put up a shop near my home that can help me raise some income that would take care of my family. I am a single mother and still have two of my children looking up to me to meet their needs. I currently rely on proceeds from milk sales to earn income which according to me is not really enough. I am looking forward to having this shop built and bettering our living standards as a family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did well by giving us money without conditions on how to spend. This gave us a lot of freedom to choose how best the money would benefit each of us. The level of satisfaction that came with each person spending as they so wish was so overwhelming.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow and used the remaining amount to complete a house that I had built using the first transfer and I also remained with some that helped me in buying chicken for rearing. Dairy farming is one of the main economic activities that we rely on here at home since the climate is favourable for the same. With these livestock at least I can be sure to put food on the table for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11pm while already asleep when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES55000 and I slept happily that night and still happy to date
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is upgrading my house from a mudwàlled house to a timber-walled and this has helped ease cleaning. I am also grateful because I have adequate food for my family of which I initially got from dairy and poultry farming.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 50000 on upgrading my house from a mud walled house to a timber-walled house.This is because as a physically challenged woman I am using a walking aid and hence cannot do the smearing and have been relying on good samaritans.The rest, I spent on food and chicken layers.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am physically disabled (cannot walk well), and a single mother who depends mainly on subsistence farming to earn a living. Since I am the sole breadwinner of my family of four, I have always yearned to establish a shop business since I feel that I can comfortably handle it. Unfortunately, I have never managed to raise the required capital because our subsistence farming could barely sustain us. God has wonderfully made my dream come true since I will use GiveDirectly's transfer to startup the business. I will establish the shop in my compound because I am strategically positioned in my village.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My two lactating cows serve as our current sources of happiness. This is because we have sufficient milk for consumption and sale of some surpluses. In that regard, my family is enjoying the protein-rich food while gaining some income for funding other essential needs and demands.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a family, we are currently facing the inadequacy of some vital needs and services, especially food. This is because we do farming and reside on 0.5 acres of land. We feel congested since the piece of land is relatively not enough to accommodate our two cows, some poultry, and crop farming. Also, the disability that I have adversely affects my farming activities. Overall, we feel that we are leading a substandard lifestyle.
