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 ($491 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 how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I did not sell my piece of land anymore as I had planned. This was possible since I was able to use part of my transfer to pay school fees for my son in college. Due to this, I am glad that he will be through with his studies before end of August and will be graduating this year. In addition to this, I would not have been able to practice some large scale farming as I did. I am now optimistic if a good harvest that will last us till the next harvesting season.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent KES 30000 on farming. I hired two acres of land, hired a tractor for land preparation and bought some quality seeds and fertilizers. I settled on this so that my family will have enough food to last us till the next harvesting season after selling part of the produce. Also, I gave my son in college KES 3000 to spend on his needs. Using the remaining amount, I bought some clothes, food and other household necessities for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While busy burning charcoal I received a phone call from a neighbor who inquired if I had received my transfers. On checking my phone, I saw the SMS notification from GiveDirectly and was overwhelmed with joy. Immediately, I abandoned the charcoal work to my wife and took the next motorcycle to the nearest MoMo agent with one shoe on my feet.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is payment of school fees for my son.Initially, I used to rely on charcoal burning for payment of school fees. I also work as a village elder, a charcoal seller and watchman just to feed and pay school fees for my family. I resort to all this after retrenchment a few years ago from my well paying job as a manager in one of the most prestigious companies in the country.Through the GD transfers, I have also managed to till the land and plant tomatoes which are short seasoned crops. I am very grateful for the change in my village as a village elder. May God bless GiveDirectly abundantly because our place is a hardship area.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 35,000 on payment school fees for my son in his last year in a medical college but initially I used to do charcoal business in order to pay school fees. KES 10,000 was spent on a heifer because because it will grow up and give birth hence will a source of milk and income. I spent KES 10,000 on boosting my charcoal selling business. I also gave out KES 8000 to my wife for upgrading our poultry farm, purchase of household items and clothing. I also spent KES 1200 on gumboots and a trench coat for my job as a watchman. I also spent KES 1400 on ploughing land and farming of tomatoes seeds because maize farming is unreliable in our place.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me to construct a new kitchen costing $300 since the one we currently operate in is in deplorable condition; leaking in water whenever it rains. I will also use $300 to buy one Ayrshire dairy cow. I will spend $150 to renovate my house and buy household furniture. The remaining part of my transfer will enable me to clear school fees arrears for my son who is in his final year at Kenya Medical Training College.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend my dawns at home with my wife and children on our small farm, either tilling, harvesting, or planting vegetables. This is the time I am most happy unlike during afternoon hours and at night when I am lonely at work where I am a security guard in a nearby school.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have ended up selling 6.5 acres of my land and all the livestock I had to educate my six children. I no longer have land to cultivate, which forces me to engage in tedious casual jobs on people's farms to earn some income to buy food for my family. I am also a security guard in a nearby school where I earn $25 monthly. The most bitter pill to swallow is that after educating my three daughters, they ended up getting married without completing their studies, and my two sons who completed their studies one year ago have not yet secured employment, thus I still support them. This is the biggest hardship I face
