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 ($526 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?
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I am still a landowner. I had begun marketing a parcel of land that I had bought with my hard-earned money years before, because I needed about $ 1000 to pay for my children's' school fees. I most definitely could not raise this money by the time GiveDirectly arrived. I was going to sell it but GD saved me the agony that would have followed. I am living with lots of peace because I didn't get forced to let my farm to a friend of mine who had already applied for a bank loan in a feat to acquire it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectlydeserves appreciation because, in a special way they reached out directly to the individuals in my village who needed aid the most. It was so well executed, unlike the government projects which are always biased and corrupt. This was devoid of anything in that description. After a deep soul searching, nothing is short of excellence in the way GD operated in my village.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the money I received on paying school fees for my two children who are in various universities. I paid about KES 56000 and bought some personal care items as she was resuming a new academic year. I then bought a dairy cow and finally furniture for my home.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($535 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Before GiveDirectly came for enrollment, I was contemplating on selling a piece of my land to get money to use in clearing my children's school fees. This is because my spouse and I had tried all the possible means to raise this money but had not been able to manage it. Since we did not want our children to miss their examinations, we had come into an agreement of selling this piece of land as we had no other choice. GiveDirectlys transfer came in handy and at the right time as it made possible for us to clear our children's school fees without selling our land. I consider this as the biggest difference in my daily life and as a miracle to have my children continue with their education and still have my piece of land.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3 am when my spouse woke me up and informed me that I had a new message on my phone. Upon reading its contents, I became so happy and I shared with her the good news. This money gave me hope of clearing my children's school fees on time.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfers to clear school fees arrears for my children at tertiary institutions. I settled on this so that they would continue with their studies without worrying of skipping their examinations due to school fees arrears. Also, I gave my wife some amount to use in starting a poultry keeping project. We decided on this as a family so that she can also have a source of income and be able to help me in meeting some of our needs. I used the remaining amount to furnish our house. I bought some paints and enough seats.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
One of my daughters joined university in may this year and will be resuming her second semester next month. I am planning to spend about KES 30,000 of my first transfer to pay her required fees for the said semester. The remaining amount including that of the second transfer is good capital for me to keep livestock for commercial milk production. This is a good investment and store for wealth for my children's education from next year onwards.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a fulltime farmer. My day involves juggling between livestock keeping and maize farming for commercial purposes which occupy the better part of my day. The happiest part of my day is in the evening when spending quality time with my children. Our discourse and laughter relieves me after a busy day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Two of my children just received admission letters to join university. Though I am exited for such an achievement, the lack of money for their school fees have since given me sleepless nights. My dependency on farming activities alone cannot sustainably feed the family, let alone take my children to school. As I speak, I have deferred studies for one of my children who was scheduled to join Daystar University this September due to overwhelming demand for fees. I feel so incapacitated and it deflates my esteem knowing I cannot meet my children's needs especially education. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life.
