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 ($518 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Presently, I am happy that I am self-employed. With the motorcycle which I bought, I operate and enjoy the full earnings alone. In a day, I save approximately 4 USD a day which I wouldn't get before I obtained my own motorcycle. The owner would take all the day earnings leaving me with none and this motivated me to buy my own when I got my transfers.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I can say Give Directly came to our village with the aim of improving the livelihood of the residents. Enrolling every household and giving equal amounts was the best idea on poverty eradication as every household has different needs. There was no hiccup on the enrollment and sending of transfers.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the whole amount which I received as my second transfer on farming. I used part of it to buy a barbed wire and poles to use in fencing my compound. I settled on this so that my livestock and chicken will not be moving to the farm to destroy our crops. Also, I spent the other portion to buy a dairy cow for milk production.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I own a motorcycle. This motorcycle serves as my source of income. I generally use it to transport goods and people to various locations thereafter get paid for the service offered. Before, I was employed to ride my employee's motorcycle and paid on commission at the end of the day. It was very challenging for me to cater to my family's needs because the commissions were little. Today, I am glad since I enjoy the work of my toil and my income has doubled simply because I earn all the profit from this business by myself. I can provide my family's daily needs with ease and give my spouse 300 KES as savings. We intend to buy a cow with the savings when the money would have accumulated enough.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My neighbors came to our house early in the money very happy and the first thing she asked after greeting us was have we already received an Mpesa message confirming that GiveDirectly has sent money . Being that we had not checked it out I hurriedly fetched my phone where I had left it and looked to confirm the same . The moment I knew that money was sent from GiveDirectly , I felt very happy and it was also a surprise because my long term goals that I couldn't achieve by then due to financial constraints part of them were now going to be met .
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I sold one of my cattle and added onto my first transfer to buy a brand new motorcycle 95,000 KES . My daily income has doubled to 600 KES on a daily basis because I no longer ride my employee's motorcycle who did pay me on commissions depending on the income I make . I am no longer stressed up in terms of catering for my family's needs because the income I make in the bodaboda business is enough .
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I currently operate a motorbike taxi belonging to a relative.From it,I get a small income which am paid by the owner daily.This is not very sufficient to meet all the needs and I would wish to buy my own motorbike.Having one will ensure that what I get each day will all go to meeting my family's needs since I will not have to share(unlike now that it is somebody else's ).With this money,I intend to actualize this.I have also managed to buy two small calves through my savings.In order to increase my income,I intend to sell the two and add to the transfers to buy a dairy cow.The milk produced will substitute the income from the taxi business as well as feed my young family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a motorbike taxi driver,am always up and about looking for customers.There is no guarantee that at any given day I will secure a good amount of money enough to give to the bike owner and some for my family's needs.There are good and bad days.On those days that I manage to earn enough money,I know that my family's needs for the day will be met and this makes me very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My wife fell ill two years ago when she was expecting our first born.Initially it was a normal headache but within a span of one week,It had already affected her eyes.As a result,she lost her eyesight completely.Since then,we have been in and out of hospital trying to get medication.The last visit a year ago diagnosed a growth on one of her nerves which requires surgery to restore her sight.With my little income,I have not been able to raise the required amount which was quoted to be close to half a million shillings.I have also not been able to get assistance from relatives to secure thos delicate surgery.Everything in the home has also been affected by this misfortune since she cannot even tend to our young child let alone all her duties in the home.It has been a struggle which I pray comes to an end one day.This is the biggest hardship I have faced.
