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 ($437 USD)
access_time 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 next one year, I hope to accumulate enough money to pay school fees for my child who is joining junior secondary through the latest education system that was just implemented. The education system seems to be quite expensive compared to the old system and it is fir this reason that we are brazing ourselves for this. With the first transfer, I was able to buy a dairy cow that is almost calving and this will go a long way in helping me and my family meet such needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by giving cash as a form of aid. Never before had I seen or heard about any organisation that does cash transfers like GiveDirectly does. Seeing the things that people were able to accomplish with this money is just overwhelming. From those that bought dairy cows, to those that used the money to build houses and seeing the things that people have done makes us all very happy.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the entire transfer of $5300 to put up a new building. For a long time, I had longed to build a bigger and better house but the little income that I got from my small scale farming added to those that my husband got from doing odd casual jobs, was hardly enough to help us buy food and meet other immediate needs of our family. The mud house that I was living in was hard to maintain considering that it required us to have clay soil that helps in maintaining it. I am so happy that the house is almost competed- just remaining with the floor which is yet to be cemented. My children too are quite happy that they have a new home and we are one happy family. I am so happy about this achievement that will be a constant reminder of GiveDirectly support that we received.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($467 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
On receiving the first transfer, I was happy with the other villagers, whom we were together in a meeting summoned by the village elder. I confirmed the source within a brief time, reading through the message, and had to call my husband to inform him. He was happy and grateful. He promised to be home early for further planning. Later that evening, I informed my kids and the requests they were making confirmed their happiness.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is a dairy cow that has changed a lot in my household. I had been buying milk for a long time but at the moment; I have been getting enough milk for my household and sometimes surplus that we sometimes sell out to pay other smaller bills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past year, I had been buying a liter of milk for my family of four from the neighbor. This was not the case before since I had a cow taken unceremoniously by my husband's parents, leaving us struggling to provide for our children. With the first transfer, we had no bigger plan than obtaining a dairy cow that would solve the problem we had. I am glad that after a long search with the skewed prices of livestock at the time we received the transfer; I secured a lactating dairy cow at KES 45000 that has so far been serving us with at least two liters of milk every day. With the remaining amount, I spent KES 4800 on obtaining a new piece of furniture for my new house that has made my visitors more comfortable whenever they visit and used the remaining on new pairs of clothes and foodstuff for my family of four.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I got married in 2012 and from that time I have been yearning to buy a dairy cow. This is mainly because dairy farming does well here compared to crop production. From my observation and experience in this area, earning a living and being able to provide for the family needs ownership of a dairy cow. I will buy a cow worth KES 35000 and this will enable get milk for my family. This will enhance the nutritional status of my household as well as help in securing the future of my children. The calves and savings from the milk sales will ensure smooth payment of my children's fees in the future and hence quality education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the past 6 months we have a had a 3 month period of rains in this area .This has brought happiness to my life because our livestock have gotten access to natural feeds(grass) and also the crops we have planted are doing well in the farms.This makes me happy because we foresee a food secure future for the family and our livestock in the next 5 months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a middle-aged woman with 2 children.My work entails farm activities such as digging, planting , weeding and poultry keeping.These activities have been hampered by my health conditions in the past 3 years. In late 2019 I was diagnosed with a chronic disease of high blood pressure and this has caused weakness in my body.As a result working in my farm has become difficult hence leading to high dependence on my husband's income for the provision of the family needs .Initially I would supplement his income by providing for the family through the sale of farm produce but because of my health condition we fully depend on him.
