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 ($492 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 now different than how it would have been because I have been able to achieve things that I never anticipated. Through the cash, I managed to buy a piece of land and constructed a nice house as well. Previously I used to live in my grandfather's compound which according to my culture thus wasn't right. Also in every planting season, I had to lease other people's farms which were a bit expensive, and sometimes I couldn't afford it. I am happy now living happily with my family and I will no longer strain to find a farm for my agricultural activities. Also, the goats that I own can now act as security and I will always lean on them in case of any financial constraints.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well my improving our living standards for the community at large. Most of us could not afford basic needs such as food, also some f us could not have access to decent houses and this was as a result of the financial hardships that we have been facing all along. Our lives have now transformed positively and I do not see anything that GiveDiretcy failed us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my spend transfer on buying five goats at a total of KES 20000. I have been willing to own them but because of the poverty life that had stricken my household, I couldn't afford them. Also, I purchased a piece of land because for all those years I have in my grandfather's compound and Ibeven never has the freedom. Also, I paid school fees for my children who are still in primary schools to avoid being sent home regularly as they used to. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuff for my family
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I learned that I had received the Mpesa message that I had anxiously been waiting for at around eight in the morning. I was overwhelmed with joy and I definitely knew all my troubles would come to an end with this cash transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life that I can proudly mention is the fact that I am now a proud owner of some goats. I have really been aspiring to keep them in my compound but due to financial difficulties, I could not afford it. I settled in rearing them because they are cheap compared to some other domestic animals, they take little time to mature, and they require little supervision. My plan is when they reproduce and increase in number I will exchange the matured offspring for a dairy cow. And from that point, I am optimistic my life will never be the same again. This will empower me to start a business selling milk in the local markets so that I can send my children to school and take care of other basic needs without straining like before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer on buying some building poles, iron sheets, timber, nails, and threads. This was for the construction of a new descent house since the previous one was a small grass-thatched hut. It was very and it could not accommodate some of my family members. I later bought some goat to keep them on my homestead as livng assets. The remaining amount of money bought enough foodstuffs for my family and I am glad since we can now take at least two meals in a day.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
An iron-roofed and spacious house for my family is generally what receiving this money means to me. This is is because my current house is small and it is a grass-thatched one which leaks a lot during the rainy seasons. Because of difficulties in getting money, achieving this desire has been in vain and the arrival of GiveDirectly to our village means a dream fulfilled. My plan once I get the grant is to spend utmost $300 to construct the house in order to change the status quo of my household. On the other hand, I intend to start livestock keeping to have a reliable project in the future that can cater to my basic needs and I will start this with 8 goats of $30 each. This will guarantee me a better livelihood that I have long wished to live.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since my work involves making of charcoal, I am required to spend the better part of my morning and afternoon hours at the bush. This means my day hours are energy draining and I also do not take a strong meal due to lack of money. It is only in the evening when I come back home to take a bath, eat my dinner, and get relaxed on my bed. This re-energizes me a lot and it gives me the strength of taking my next day's work. Therefore, the evening becomes the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With my family of 5, the only source of income to cater to our basic needs is charcoal burning, a job that is time-consuming mostly 1 month to make 10 sacks that I sell at $5 per sack. The period between the preparation of charcoal to selling is a very hard one for me since I am forced to seek help for food from any reliable relative which in most cases I miss. Therefore, food insecurity is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life.
