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 ($424 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming year, I hope to intensify farming practices by expanding the area under plantations in order to increase farm output. During a good season, surplus farm produce has paid a lot of bills, including school fees for my children. Despite the fact that I currently own a small plot of land, I intend to lease more acres in a nearby community where I can find large tracts of land at an affordable price.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly provided us with immense help that was equitable to all recipients. Everyone received the transfer and was free to plan without intrusion from the office or the community leadership. I am grateful that I was able to use our support to build a new house, improve livestock farming, pay school fees, and buy food for my family of six. All information shared was clear from beginning to end, and I wish that all villages received the same level of support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Prior to receiving GiveDirectly support, paying school fees for my children was a significant challenge. Because of the scorching sun, which can be detrimental to farm produce, relying on subsistence or livestock farming has never been predictable. Disease outbreaks are a constant threat to livestock farming, resulting in significant losses at times. It felt good to spend $400 from the second transfer on paying admission fees for my daughter starting form one and another starting eighth grade. I went ahead and spent $100 equipping them with all of the admission requirements, which included a metal box, a pair of shoes for each, text books, and money for upkeep. I used the remaining funds to buy food for my family of six.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5pm after attending a merry go round monthly contribution when everyone was smiling after checking their phones. Out of curiosity, I checked mine too and confirmed to have received KES55000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy knowing that my child school fees would be cleared.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is relief from casual labor. This is because I have cleared school fees and have bought adequate food for my family which can last for the next two months.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES21000 on a 3000 litres water tank because our nearest water source with clean water is an hour away. I spent KES10000 on my son's school fees and KES 5000 on a goat as a long term investment.The rest I spent on food and clothing.I normally rely on dairy farming and casual labor in order to feed and pay school fees for my kids.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My firstborn child (daughter) is joining secondary school in the next four months. This has been worrying me since I do not have money to use as fees because what we obtain from our subsistence farming is just enough to sustain us. As such, receiving this money means an end to my worries because I will use approximately KES 50000 as fees. Also, receiving this money means that we shall be having access to more freshwater because I will acquire a 5000-liter water tank for storing rainwater. This project will cost about KES 30000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last month I purchased a Dorper sheep worth KES 3500 using savings from our merry-go-round project. Ownership of the sheep has attracted lots of happiness to me because I sheep do well in our area. I had longed to start the project of rearing sheep but I had no capital. Luckily, I have managed to save the little that I could get from the sale of surplus milk and eggs from my farm. I am still making more savings to be used in expanding my flock.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a family, we are facing an acute shortage of clean freshwater for domestic uses. The relatively small dams that we usually rely on would dry up often when rains delay. We could be capturing and storing roofwater but we have never managed to purchase a voluminous tank.
