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 ($518 USD)
access_time 4 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 because I no longer buy milk like I used to before. This has been possible since I was able to use the transfer to buy a dairy cow and it has calved already. Also, this is an asset that I can depend on in case of a financial challenges.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In opinion, GiveDirectly did well by not discriminating anyone and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I spent a good amount to buy a tree that I am intending to use in making some timber. I bought some iron sheets using the remaining amount. I am intending to use these materials to build a decent and more permanent house for my family. I live in a grass thatched house and its roof is always leaking.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I had bought a dairy cow. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I depend on the casual jobs in the village to earn an income to meet all the basic needs of the family. I did not have another source of income to save to enable me to buy a dairy cow. My children sometimes could miss having breakfast because there was no money for the milk. Currently, I have a dairy cow, I get more than six liters per day which is enough for family. I sell the surplus at the market to buy other basic needs for my family and also buy farm chemicals. I no longer go for casual jobs in the village like before. I have devoted much of my time to my own farm. I am now self-employed and I am happy and because GiveDirectly has changed our standard of living.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when I received my money I felt so happy I remember it was very in the morning when I heard a message from my phone. When I checked it I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I knew I would be in a position to buy a dairy cow and cut the daily cost of buying milk.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy a dairy cow. This is because I used to buy milk from my neighbors and it was so costly for me since I depend on the casual jobs in the village. I also bought building materials ready to build a house for my family and the rest of the money I used it to buy food.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In 2001 I sold some 2 cattle that I had to settle some medical bulls for my daughter whose delivery happened in hospital.Since then,I have never afforded to purchase others.The subsistence farming activities,small scale growing of tomatoes,cannot accord me ability to buy other cattle.Receiving this money means that I will be in a position to purchase other cattle which will benefit me in two ways;I will get milk for sale and consumption and the cows will act as future savings to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Imagine worker working as a casual labourer(making other people's fence) and not getting your dues as per the agreed terms at the end of the day(some of the people I work for does not stick to our terms of agreement and end up paying me less than what we had agreed).Getting paid less makes me angry because I feel that my energy has been wasted.Morning is the happiest part of the day because I wake up after I have forgotten the problems of the previous day and I have faith that the new day will not be the same as the previous day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We were brought up in a humble background.Sustaining ourselves has been a big challenge to me owing to the fact that I don't have a stable job that can generate income to me.Lack of stable job to sustain my family made my spouse desert me.To date,the lack of a stable job to sustain myself remains a big hurdle to me
