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 ($519 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 was in that, I was able to take care of my children's school fees with ease hence they were not sent home due to fee arrears. Before then, I had stress thinking of ways to offset their fee balances. I had planned to lease land in order to settle their school fees from the farm proceeds which I would have planted on the small piece of land. I finally bought cows once again after selling some to pay school fees for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, what GiveDirectly did well was to uplift the living standards of many people in our village by giving us unconditional cash transfer which really helped us to achieve different goals. There is nothing that I can point out which GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer on purchasing a heifer and a dairy cow. I had sold almost all the cows in order to pay school fees for my children and had only remained with a dairy cow. I had to start buying milk for a period of time which was expensive. During that period their health was deteriorating because they like milk and I could not afford to buy it most of the time. I also renovated my kitchen by fixing a new roof. The current one was a grass-thatched one and repairing it now and them was hectic. I finally decided to buy 30 hens. I want to grasp a chance in this lucrative business to earn a living.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference is that I have paid the school fees for my children. I depend on the casual jobs in the village and the amount of money that I get is too small and it cannot gather for all the basic needs and the same time paid school fees for my children. They used to be sent home most of the time to collect school fees and this was affecting their performance in school because they could stay home before I get the money. When I received the money from GiveDirectly we decided with my family to clear the school fees for all term. My children are no longer sent home and this has led to an improvement in their performance compared to previous terms. I have also reduced the casual jobs and I have devoted half of my time to work on my own farm and this had led to a good harvest. I am so much grateful for the support it has changed our living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard a message from my phone. When I checked it I could not believe my eyes because I have never received such amount of money before. I waited until the time we were taking breakfast when I informed my family members and they were all happy. I knew I would be able to pay school fees for my children on time and they will not be sent home from school.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to pay school fees for my children in secondary school, I also paid workers who cultivated my farm and the rest of the money I used it to buy food and farm inputs.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a dairy farmer and I will be glad to get this money and buy one heifer costing approximately 16,000 Kenya shillings.This money will also help me clear my children's school fees arrears amounting to 17,000 Kenya shillings.I have one child in the university and three children in secondary school.I will then buy food stock for my family because we did not have a good harvest last season.I will also prepare land ready for planting for the next season.The remaining part of the transfers will help me buy sheep.Sheep multiply very fast and will help me in the near future in paying school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I wake up early morning to go and get avocados from the market for my wife to sell around the village.When my wife leaves for this business I go to the farm where I have grown maize,beans and sugercane.In the afternoon I attended church meetings.I am the head of the region's men church council and therefore I am busy most of the afternoon doing God's work.Afternoons are the happiest part of my day.This is because I get to fellowship with the community and share my life experiences as I encourage the youth.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My education journey has been a tough one thats why it is the biggest hardship that I have faced in my life.After completing my A level studies I was admitted to a teachers training college in 1989 but I did not complete my studies.I deferred my studies because I was undergoing treatment due to injuries inflicted to me by my brother.My brother came home drunk and after an argument he hacked my shoulder with a machete.I went back to college after recovering only to be informed that my vacancy had been taken by someone else.I came back home in 1991 and started teaching neighbouring schools as an untrained teacher.I then decided to go to a theological college in 2006 which I did not complete due to lack of money.By this time my children had started going to school and they also needed school fees.I had to forego my studies.I became the laughing stock of the village since I was bright but ended up not completing my college education.I am now a pastor at my local church.My children are often mocked that they will end up like me.This is the reason I am now struggling to ensure that my children advance as much as possible in their education.
