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 ($509 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?
Owning a permanent spacious house is the biggest difference in my daily life. I have been yearning to construct a decent house but due to my low financial status, I could not afford it. My previous house was in bad condition and very small. Whenever it rained especially when it was at night, we could not sleep till dawn. My children were even forced to sleep at my neighbor's house of which they were uncomfortable. The coming of GiveDirctly has changed everything because I am now sleeping under a decent semi-permanent house. I am now as happy as a parent. I can even invite some of my friends unlike before whereby I felt embarrassed.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, it did everything so well in various ways. First, the field officers were humble and approachable and this made me be free with them. Secondly, no one asked me to pay any amount of money to be enrolled. Also, the money was unconditionally meaning I was given the chance to chose what I wanted to buy provided it was something worthy. Due to this, I do not see any sector GuveDirectly failed us.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer in buying some livestock as a pair of oxen worthy KES 28000. I then bought some beddings such as a bed and a mattress which cost KES 10000. I then bought sie building materials like iron sheets, building poles and nails with a total of 8000, I then paid school fees for my children and bought them some new school uniforms. The remaining amount of money, I am using it in buying some foodstuffs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($546 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having the dairy cow has really transformed my life in so many ways. One, I am now getting plenty of milk for free or my family consumption and also selling the remaining liters to my friends. Previously, I used to buy the milk from friends which were a bit costly and sometimes I could not afford it. This is now settled because for now my children normally take milk every day which is a surplus to their daily meals. The money that I am getting from the few liters that I am selling to friends and neighbors had also improved my living standard. In no longer strain to meet my family's needs like before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was still on my bed when my phone when I heard my phone ring continuously. This was so unusual because ever since I got the phone it has never rung such an hour. I decided to check who could ave sent the message. Upon checking, I realized it was an mpesa message from GD. I was very happy and immediately started celebrating.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying school fees for my children and also bought them some new pair of school uniform. Their previous ones were old and torn, and they were always sent home to collect fees. I later bought some building materials like building poes, nails, iron sheets, and timber. I also bought a dairy cow at KES 12000 from a friend. I have been having the desire to keep it in my homestead but my income was very low I could not afford to purchase one. I was only admiring those of my neighbors. I now feel like the rest. Since we had not been harvesting for a while, I bought sufficient foodstuffs for my family. We are now taking three meals unlike before when we used to take a single meal.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
A decent home and new beddings are generally what receiving this money means to me. Currently, I spend my nights with my grown-up children in the same house and this is culturally unethical. I am forced to live this kind of life due to being financially unstable and considering that I am a widow. The desire to own a separate and decent house has in many years gone unachieved but with the arrival of GiveDirectly to our village, my hope got renewed and I am sure of spending utmost $250 to buy iron sheets in order to roof my house which of now is at superstructure level. My other plan is to use $320 on buying an oxen and ox plow inclusively. This will assure me of maximum farm produce and hence, food security to my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The afternoon is the happiest part of my day since I get ample time to rest after doing farm work in the morning hours. It is also at this time when I prepare my first meal for the day that I share with my children. Evening is so exhaustive to me since I am required to work again after having rested until sunset.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It is every woman's desire to get social and financial support from her husband but this has never been the case to me since the death of my husband 3 years ago. At the moment, I am a desperate woman with no reliable source of income to depend on and this forced me to dwell on charcoal burning as my hope for living. This job is very tiresome and its income is inconsistent especially when you get unfaithful buyers. Many times, we skip our meals and also my children have been sent out of school due to a lack of fees. Therefore, I consider the financial crisis as my biggest hardship.
