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 ($525 USD)
access_time over 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 from how it would have been had been not received the transfer because my children now have a place to sleep. They no longer have to walk at night. Also, I had never imagined that it would ever reach a time when I will have to pay school fees for three of my children at a time without much struggle but the transfer enabled me to achieve this.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by giving us unconditional financial aid 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 build a house for my children. I decided on this since they usually sleep at our neighbors house and it is usually unsafe for them since they are ladies. I spent the remaining amount to pay school fees for my daughter who was joining secondary school and my two other children who were in third form and in a technical institution.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($528 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
My family's basic needs have been overwhelming to me thus I had to work extra hard to meet them. Among my daily household expenditures is spending on milk since I have no cow. This has been so costly to me and I did not have enough resources to buy a cow. I had wished to buy one to help me reduce this but couldn't happen. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now living a stress-free life. This is because I no longer worry too much about how to get money to use in buying a dairy cow. I am glad because GiveDirectly has enabled me to achieve this. Even though I still spend on milk, I am hopeful that soon this will come to an end. I believe that very soon, my children will always be getting their breakfast unlike now because I sometimes do not have money to use in buying milk.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes to 4 a.m. when I realized that I had received money from GiveDirectly. At that instant, I woke my wife up, informed her of the good news. We sang a song in a low tone and prayed to thank God for the blessings that had just come in and to GiveDirectly also for their support. I knew that it was the end of my suffering.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I work hard to make sure that I provide for my family and among my challenging roles was paying school fees for my children. When I received my first transfer, I spent part of it to pay school fees for my daughter so as to avoid her being sent back home. Buying milk has always been my daily routine and it is costly. Buying a dairy cow became my second priority after paying school fees for my daughter. I am now glad since I believe that I will stop buying milk very soon. I used the remaining amount to buy two goats for rearing, two sacks of maize flour, clothes and beddings for my family. I am now glad since we sleep soundly because we have enough beddings. I currently live a stress-free life since I have settled my daughter's fees and also, I have acquired family assets that have great value in my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will now be able to buy my own dairy cow.I have a son who has not been healthy from birth and depends solely on milk and this has been a challenge for me.I used to have a few cows but when my children joined secondary school and one in college,I had to sell all of them in order to raise their school fees.Therefore,we have had to incur extra costs of buying milk from our neighbours.With the remainder,I will be able to complete a house that I have built halfway.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning,I leave my homestead to look for a casual job for the day.There is usually work in people's farms that will earn me a little money at the end of the day.In the evening,when I finally get paid for the day,I return back home with some food for the family and especially milk for my sick son.This makes evening the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In 2007,my wife gave birth to our eight child,a son.At birth,he was very tiny and we thought that he will eventually grow.He is now thirteen years old but he looks like a toddler.He cannot eat any solid food and solely depends on milk.We also have to always be around him and therefore my spouse and I can hardly do any jobs on to support our family.We visited several hospitals over the years trying to get a diagnosis but all these has been in vain.This eventually ate up all our resources especially when coupled with the schooling of the other children as well as the daily needs of our family.At the moment,we live from hand to mouth.This is the biggest hardship I have faced
