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 ($517 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My biggest difference is that y child was able to join secondary school in time as required, with all the needs and without having neither a debt in school or anyone else in the village. It is a miracle in my life is that I have always depended on a small income from coconut business which could not even meet our needs. My life has been a struggle and my children have always studied in struggles of being sent home every now and again. My son almost gave up in continuing with education because he knew I would not afford to meet the needs in time. But with GD transfers, I was able to mee the needs in time comfortably. He is now in school and has never been sent home again.school fees
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am more satisfied with the whole enrollment process. The process was transparent, well explained and in details. I feel GD was very transparent in how they carried out the program which is a very important part being that money is involved. There was no biasness which is the best way to help the less fortunate in the village.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer in boosting my coconut business by adding more stock to the business. Before the transfers, the business has been my main source of income and boosting it was very important because I will not lose my identity. I also used part of the transfers to pay school fees for my son who was joining the secondary school this year and also to buy school requirements which he needed while joining. I am glad I was able to handle everything successfully without having any debt. The remaining part of the money I used on buying good for my family. I will be a very happy parent when we always have what to eat in the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that through this transfer, I was able to acquire a bull and three goats. To me having this livestock, is a source of wealth, and which I can I readily depend on in case of any financial crisis. I am planning to add another bull to make a pair to help me in my farming when the season for cultivation comes. With the goats, I am expecting them to reproduce and increase in number.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was my helper who showed me the message and read to me the contents. I was filled with happiness when I realized the money was from GiveDirectly, I was thankful to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 13000 on a bull to help me in my farming. I am hoping to get another bull so to make a pair that will plough my farm during the rainy season. In addition to this, I also purchased three goats at KES 6000 to keep in my homestead. I am aiming to keep them so that when they multiply, I can be able to sell some of them when am in any financial crisis. I also paid school fees for my children so that they would not be sent back home. I am planning to open a restaurant in my area using the remaining amount so that it will be my investment.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Stopping the disrespectful coconut brew business when it is a lady running it, is what receiving this money means to me. Currently, I am the solely breadwinner for my family because my husband is old and sick such that he cannot do any job to support me. This forced me to engage in extracting hard core stones for sell, but because of its laborious nature, I opted to stop it and venture into selling of the local coconut brew. Since I feel this business is subjecting me to mockery, the arrival of GiveDirectly to my household has been a great blessing. I plan to use my first transfer to start an eatery premise next to where my friends are selling their brew, something that will give me my daily income. I will spend my second transfer in buying livestock especially goats and the remaining amount will support my children's education. This will change my livelihood and hence the better transformation that I have longed for.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning, I have to go and fetch water from the nearby water pan. On arriving home, I prepare my first meal when is is around noon and thereafter, I am forced to go and camp at my selling point of the local brew in order to get my customers. I usually come back home at night, around ten o'clock to rest. It is at the night hours when I get ample time to rest from my busy day. Therefore, I consider evening as the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Surviving on selling the local coconut brew is what I have known for three months now after abandoning my work of extracting hard core stones which I found to be more dangerous to my health. Being a lady and doing these kind of business is what I feel shameful to myself but because I have no any support from my husband, I am forced to do them in order to provide food, clothing and education to my children. Therefore, I consider lack of reliable source of income as my biggest hardship.
