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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($340 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My main goal this year is to enroll my two boys in a boarding school. They currently attend the local day school, but I believe that a boarding school environment would be more beneficial for their studies. At home, they are often busy with household chores in the evenings, which leaves them little time to focus on their schoolwork. I think being in a boarding school will provide them a more conducive environment to study without distractions.
I plan to use the money earned from the tomato farm I started with the third transfer from GiveDirectly to pay for their boarding school fees. Achieving this goal would bring me great satisfaction as a mother because all I want is the best for my children. I want them to have a stable and successful future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am extremely happy and grateful for what GiveDirectly has done; they have significantly improved the living standards in my community. Many people who didn't have houses now have them, and others have ventured into farming, solving many of our food scarcity issues. However, what stands out the most to me is the directness and cost-effectiveness of the GiveDirectly enrollment process. The officers from GiveDirectly don't require any form of payment or compensation for their services—they simply register you and then go on their way. I have no recommendations for changes to the GiveDirectly programs because I haven't found any flaws in their process.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving $450 from GiveDirectly, I felt incredibly happy because I could finally pursue my dream. Previously, I grew maize, but I always wanted to farm tomatoes. However, I lacked the necessary funds to start this venture. With the money from GiveDirectly, I spent $250 on tomato seeds for one acre and $180 on other essentials like insecticides to ensure a good harvest. Tomatoes thrive in our area and fetch a good price.
It's important to note that tomatoes only take two months to harvest, and in just two weeks, I'll start harvesting them. I chose tomato farming because it's sustainable and fulfills a long-held desire of mine. I plan to use the earnings from the farm to pay for my children’s school fees, provide for my family of five kids, and save some money to reinvest in tomato farming.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($288 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This year want to open a small shop called a kiosk to sell things. This will help me make more money for my family. With help from GiveDirectly, I also want to keep farming. I'll use the money from farming to send my kids to school. This is really important to me. It will make me very happy to achieve these goals.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has helped me a lot. Now, I have a generator to pump water for irrigation, which was just a dream before. I don't have any complaints. I like all their programs and how they do things. I'm thankful for everything they've done for me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Once, I got $450 from GiveDirectly. I decided to spend $100 on growing beans and $210 on buying a generator for pumping water from the river to my farm. Before, I had to rent generators which were expensive and not reliable.
Now, I plan to sell most of the beans I grow and use some for my family's meals. The extra money I make from selling them will go towards educating my three kids and covering household expenses.
I also used $90 to build a small shop, or kiosk. I hope to open it soon to sell things and make more money for my family. This will help us have a steady income.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($130 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While I was at home, having a relaxing moment with my three children, a message came through. Upon confirming, it was a receipt of $200 from GiveDirectly. My heart soared with joy. Later that day, my husband returned from our farm where he had been busy fencing. Excitedly, I shared the news with him, and his face lit up with happiness, mirroring my own. Our first collective thought was to construct a much-needed latrine. For too long, we had been sharing with our neighbor. Additionally, we envisioned attending to other pressing needs that had lingered unfulfilled. We felt a profound sense of gratitude towards GiveDirectly for enabling us to embark on these essential endeavors.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The support we received has brought about profound changes within our family. Perhaps the most significant transformation was the construction of a pit latrine. Can you believe it? In this modern age, sharing a toilet with neighbors felt like a relic from an ancient past, an unbearable inconvenience we endured daily. Welcoming guests meant a courteous but awkward redirecting them to our neighbors' facilities. It's a blessing beyond words to now have our own, and for this, we're immensely grateful to both God and GiveDirectly. Their support made this vital change possible, granting us a newfound sense of dignity and comfort that we cherish every single day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $200, we allocated $115 toward constructing a pit latrine. For the longest time, we relied on our neighbor's facility, which was unhygienic and inconvenient, especially with visitors around. We dedicated $45 to drilling and $70 to procure construction materials, finally securing a crucial aspect of our home life. With $55, we purchased topdressing fertilizer to enhance our maize farm during its growth stage. This was timely, as we lacked the funds for such necessities. Another $10 we used for petrol, crucial for operating the generator, essential for pumping purposes during fertilizer application. Remaining mindful of our family's sustenance, we dedicated $20 to purchasing food. Our family of four, including three children, relies primarily on farming for sustenance. When conditions are unfavorable, we engage in casual jobs to ensure our family's well-being. This support arrived precisely when we needed it most, allowing us to address immediate needs and invest in our farming endeavors, fortifying our hope for a more stable future.
Enrolled
access_time 1 year ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Business do well around here, the shops are few and residents are many. It's an opportunity will look to tap in. A good shop need enough stock. We'll spend $600 to build a small structure outside our home. This amount will be enough for the stock also. The profits will help sustain our family for a longer period when we manage it well.
Due to the favourable farming environment around here. We plan to spend about $500 to grow water melons under irrigation, on our quarter an acre piece of land. It's very profitable and marketable. If we're lucky we can make upto $800. This is when the market prices are good. We hope to make good money and improve our family fortunes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We're happy because we own half an acre of land. We plant vegetables, maize, beans or even onions. This means we can either sell or consume as a family. It gives us joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We depend on casual jobs for a living such as harvesting, planting, weeding amongst others. These are seasonal jobs. It has meant we cannot raise enough capital to do farming or business within the village. This has made our lives hard since we cannot raise enough income for our family. It has been made worse by the high cost of living. A day of labour pays $3.