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 ($468 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, I am concentrating on poultry and dairy farming in order to sustain my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
It does well to improve living standards of people especially in our village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES30000 on a heifer because it grows fast and once grown will be a source of income for my family. I spent KES20000 on a building a new kitchen.This is because the one I had was old, had worn out roof and had lived in it for the past 10 years.The rest was spent on food and clothing.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($497 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 9 am. I had charged my phone at my neighbor's house. I heard my friends celebrating and saying they have received the money from GiveDirectly. I immediately ran back to get my phone to check if I have also gotten the money. When I switched on my phone I could not believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and called my spouse to inform him about the money. My children also celebrated the good news. We were all overwhelmed with joy. I knew I would be able to buy a donkey.
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 purchased a heifer. I always buy milk from my neighbor and it's so costly for me. I depend on small-scale farming and poultry-keeping projects. The amount of money that I get through this is so small and can only meet the basic household needs. I had no extra money to buy a heifer. My spouse does casual jobs and also gets a small amount of money which we combine for the basic needs of the family. When we received the money from GiveDirectly we decided to buy a heifer. We will cut the daily cost of buying milk daily which is so expensive when our cow reproduced .we will save the money that we could have used to buy milk for other projects. Currently, we have greats hopes and peace of mind because we know tomorrow is better. GiveDirectly has changed our living standards to be much better. We are so happy and grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the money on purchasing a heifer. This will enable me to cut the daily cost of buying milk which is so expensive. I purchased three hens. This is a source of income because I sell the eggs at the shopping center. I plowed my farm, bought fertilizers and seeds ready for planting. I am so grateful because I will get a good harvest this season. Finally, I spent the rest on food and clothes for my children. I am so much grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that our daily income shall increase since we shall buy an additional lactating cow. Currently, we consume all the milk we acquire from the only cow we have. As such, we have been yearning for another cow to ensure we have surplus milk for sale because there exists a ready market for the commodity. Luckily, we have relatively large grazing land for livestock. Also, we shall utilize any remaining amount of the transfer on improving our kitchen because the one we have has a leaking grass-thatched roof. In brief, this transfer will change our lives in the best way possible.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a subsistence farmer, the happiest part of my day is the morning when I am attending to my livestock and crops. Ensuring that everything is okay suggests that our future is bright.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship we have faced as subsidence farmers is the harsh climatic conditions in our area. Specifically, prolonged periods of no rains and tropical diseases are destroying our crops, attracting lots of losses to us. This has made it difficult for us to engage in significant developmental projects since the little crops we could attain are not even enough to sustain us. We also have no capacity to irrigate our farms.
