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 ($441 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The new goal that I have now is planning on purchasing a dairy cow. This will enable me to cut the daily cost of buying milk which is so costly. I will save the small income that I get from the business that I do at home.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by Giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and investing in dairy-keeping projects some started businesses where they generate some income daily. This has improved their standard of living. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25,000 on purchasing a heifer. This has been my main focus because of the high cost of buying milk daily. I spent KES 3,500 per month only on milk. I will cut this cost in the future when it reproduces. I spent KES 1,000 on purchasing poles, and wire and fenced my compound. This is to prevent cows from destroying my crops and it is secure as well. I added KES 10,000 to my business. I buy goats from the farmers at a lower cost and sell them at the market at a higher price to earn some profits. I am so happy because this has expanded my business. The remaining amount of money I spent on food and household items. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6:30 Am I had gone to feed the cows, When I come back I found a message on my phone. When I checked I felt so happy because it was a message confirming that I have received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I inform my family members and everyone celebrated. I knew I would be able to invest in Dairy farming. I went to withdraw the money the following day and plan with my family how to spend it well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Purchasing a heifer is the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. This has always been my wish but I did not have the money. I depend on small businesses and farming as a source of income. The money that I got from this was so small and I was not in the position to save. When I received the transfer from GiveDiretly I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to invest in dairy farming. Currently, a have a heifer, When it reproduces shortly I will be able to get enough milk for my family and cut the daily cost of milk. I will sell the surplus milk to earn an income to meet my daily basic needs. I am so grateful for the support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend KES 27,000 on purchasing a heifer. I will be able to get enough milk for my family when it reproduces. I spent KES 8,000 on purchasing two sacks of main for my family. KES 5,000 on clothes for my children and the rest of the money I invested in my business of buying goats from farmers and selling them at a higher price at the market.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am engaged in a small business of buying and selling goats in the nearby market which comes only on Mondays. The average number of goats that I buy and sell is 7 which is a bit low due to the inadequacy of funds. Out of this, I fetch a profit of approximately KES 500 on each goat sold. I, therefore, intend to increase the business by buying more goats which will fetch more profits (smiling) using the transfer from Give Directly. At an estimated cost of KES 50,000, I intend to increase the number of goats to buy and sell to at least 20. My projection is to earn an estimate profit of KES 500 in each and lead a decent life. Therefore, receiving this money means an increase in income in my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months, none of my family members has fallen sick and this has brought joy to our lives. I am so grateful that during this coronavirus pandemic and hard economic times, all my family members are healthy. We are currently struggling to make ends meet especially providing the basic needs of the family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Maize necrosis disease is the challenge we are currently facing. We depend on maize as a staple food in our region which has been affected by the disease. I am sad that the disease has been with us for the past 10 years and nothing has been done to curb the situation. We are currently buying maize for domestic use which is costly as a family yet we have land to cultivate. Unfortunately, we spend approximately KES 600 a week buying maize for domestic use and we have failed to get an alternative food to supplement maize.
