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 ($498 USD)
access_time 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 currently different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer in that if it was not for the transfers I would not have improved my life. Purchasing cows was not in my budget anytime soon because I could not afford them let one constructing a house for my children. But through the transfers I have made great steps. I will earn income from the oxen I bought and also benefit from milk after my cow will have given birth.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion Give Directly does well in giving people cash. This has enabled people to meet most of their needs that they could not afford. On the other hand, they are not doing anything wrong. All they do is commendable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought both an ox and a cow for rearing with part of the recent transfer which I have added to the ones I bought with the fir transfer. I will not only benefit from milk but I also have oxen for ploughing. This has saved me from the cost of ploughing labour plus I will earn income by ploughing people's farms.
My children too did not have a sleeping place , instead they used to sleep in their grandmother's house. It was not safe for them to walk at night so I constructed a room for them.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the message in my phone in the morning hours while I was preparing to take my breakfast. When I read the contents, I realised it was an Mpesa Message. On checking who the sender was, I could not hold back the happiness that I felt because GiveDirectly had sent the first transfer. I thanked them for fulfilling their promise to us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Seeing my five children comfortably continuing with their studies without interruptions on fees makes the biggest difference in my daily life. Had I not received the transfer, they would be at home now as I look for help from other people and government offices. I am at peace now having cleared the arrears through the transfers. At least I have an ample time to source for more funds to pay for their subsequent terms.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 42000 of my first transfer on paying school fees for my five children. I paid for them on time to avoid being discontinued from their learning. I am glad that they are now comfortably continuing with their studies without interruptions on fees. At least I have an ample time to prepare for the next payment. Apart from this, I also bought two goats which I am currently keeping in my homestead. I am expecting that they will reproduce and increase in number. I spent the remaining amount on buying daily foodstuffs for my family and paying for other household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My ambition has been to start a small shop within our village because we currently have very few so it forces people to go far to buy some commondotities.Starting up a shop will attract customers thus will have an extra income. When I receive the money I will start by venturing on this project by using 80,000 Kenya shillings as a starting capital. The remaining amount I will save so that I can pay school fees for my children when school resume.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually sell the palm wine during the night hours because this is the time I get more customers since most of the people are relaxing after a busy day. I spend time being harrased by customers on one way or the other. I return home at around 3.00 a.m and find my children are asleep. In the afternoon I spend more time with them sharing different stories while taking our meals, thus afternoon is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I depend on palm wine selling for a living. The income I get every month is 5,000 Kenya shilling which is not enough to cater for the family's needs. This forces my children to do casual jobs such as farm jobs to get some income. This condition has not enabled me to start the shop I have wished for long thus financial problem is the biggest hardship in my life.
