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 ($493 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?
My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I was able to pay school fees for my children in various schools. I do casual jobs in the village and sometimes I don't get this jobs. The amount of money that I get through this casual jobs is so small and cannot meet all the basic needs of the family including paying school fees for my children. My children used to be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affecting their performance since the could missed some of the lesson. When I received the second transfer I was able to pay school fees On time and made them improved in their performance. I am so happy because I am able to concentrate on my daily farming at home without being stressed up. My children are doing good in school and I have hope that it will their vision and mission will be fulfilled in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows and pay school fees. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well in our village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly to pay school fees for my children in secondary and college. My children used to be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affecting their performance.Their performance improved so well this time because they spent all their time in school. I was Lucy to clear all the school fees on time. I also bought clothes sofa set seats for my new house that I constructed using the previous transfer. The last amount of money I used on food for the family. I am so much grateful because we had enough in store during that time. GiveDirectly has changed our lives to be better.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While waking up at around six in the morning, I heard my phone ring and I was overwhelmed with joy. I didn't withdraw money the same day but kept longer just to have a feeling of getting such a lump sum which I had not received before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is building my own semi permanent house where my kids and visitors can comfortably live. Initially, my kid's used to sleep in their grandparents house especially after one of my grass-thatched houses burnt down. I am also more optimistic and hopeful because GiveDirectly has relieved of some financial burdens like purchase of farm inputs, availability of adequate food and payment of my teenage son's male circumcision fee which wouldn't be possible before.Through the transfers I have been able to buy farm inputs and plant in a timely manner unlike other times and I am very grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 of my transfer on a two roomed 26 Iron roofed house because the ones I had before were grass thatched and one had burnt up. KES 20,000 was spent on a heifer because I didn't have one before. I used to buy 2litres per day which is quite costly. I also spent two sacks of maize on 5000 because my maize stock was depleted, KES 9500 on my daughter's college registration fees, KES 4000 on farming and farm inputs and the rest on clothing.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My family of 8 has been living in this small one roomed hut since 2001. I have always wanted to build a three roomed iron roofed house that goes for $400 since then, but lack of finances has made it impossible. My children mostly spend their nights at their grand parents kitchen which inconveniences them walking at night. It is also shameful asking my neighbours to host my visitors at night whenever they come around. This money will therefore enable me to fulfill my all time wish. I will then spend $300 to buy a friesian dairy cow and $200 to build a poultry unit and buy chicken for rearing. Selling milk and eggs will earn me income to support my family needs, especially food and education for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day entails working in my farm during morning hours, then spend my afternoon fetching firewood for sale. All these activities are tedious hence evening is the happiest part of my day since it is the time I get to rest with my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Supporting my children's education has been the bigggest hardship I face. My two daughters ended up getting married at a tender age against my wish, since I could not afford to pay their school fees past primary school. I am currently struggling to educate my other six children who are still in primary school. I depend on farming to earn a living but farming has become unreliable in this region due to poor weather patterns.
