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 ($513 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 now different in that receiving this transfer brought great relief to me because I had been struggling for long to raise school fees for my son who is in his final year of study. I paid KES 50000 in advance for him so that he would continue with his studies without any interruptions concerning school fees. Also, I now own a heifer which to me is an asset. In addition to this, I have been able to provide my family's basic needs such as food effectively as well as paying for other household expenses.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, there are great improvements in our living standards as well as our social lives. Before GiveDirectly came, Our living standards were very low. Some of us could not access decent shelter. Affording daily basic needs was also a challenge among many people due to the hardships we were going through. However, with the coming of GiveDirectly, we have been able to build decent houses, effectively fulfilled the daily provision of basic needs and also own some living assets such as goats and cows. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent KES 10000 of my second transfer to clear fee arrears for my son who is in high school. I paid this fee so that he would continue with his studies comfortably in his final year. Secondly, I spent KES 15500 to purchase a heifer for rearing. I am hoping that it will reproduce and increase in number. I have been living in a small house with a dilapidated roof and it is nearly collapsing due to the several cracks on the walls. Because of this, I spent a portion of the money to buy the building materials majorly iron sheets and nails to facilitate this. I spent the remaining amount to buy some basic needs for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Owning the livestock which includes the heifer and four goats to me is the biggest difference in my daily life. Owning them to me seemed impossible considering my lowly financial status. Having them gives me is an investment because I am expecting them to reproduce in the near future and increase in number and have many of them. Through them, I will be able to sell in order to meet my future financial needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the message notification early in the morning after my helper went through them in my phone inbox. I could not believe it at first but it dawned on me later on that indeed it was true that GiveDirectly had finally sent my first transfer. I was overwhelmed with joy and thanked GiveDirectly for fulfilling their promise to us.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of the transfer to purchase a heifer and four goats to keep in my homestead. I had desired to keep livestock since they are a source of wealth to us. Having them to me is an investment because once they reproduce and increase in number in the near future, I will be able to sell and sort out my future financial needs. Apart from this livestock, I also spent KES 15000 to pay for school fees for my son who is in high school. I cleared the outstanding arrears for him to be allowed back to school so that he can comfortably continue with his studies. On the remaining amount, I purchased building materials which include iron sheets and building poles to construct a new house. The house that I was living in previously was in a bad state and was not conducive for shelter. The transfer has enabled me to purchase these materials which to me seemed impossible considering the financial hardships I was facing. I am glad that very soon I will be moving into my own new house.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will be able to renovate my house by repairing the dilapidated roof and walls, this will ensure my house still stands strong throughout this rainy season. Secondly, I will partly pay for my son's education in secondary school because I want him to concentrate on his studies and get good grades that will enable him join university as a Government sponsored student. Lastly, I will invest in goats that I can be able to sell whenever there is a financial emergency.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening makes the happiest part of my day because I can rest after all the hard day's work in the scorching sun.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Charcoal burning being our main source of income can no longer be depended on due to scarcity of trees and the hard labor it requires which mostly results in health complications. This makes limited financial resources the biggest hardship that we face. Last month, just before the end of first term exams, my son who is in secondary school was sent home to collect his fee balance so he can be allowed to sit his exam. I literally had to beg the headteacher to allow him in school and promised to clear it in May when they re-open for the second term. Also, despite it being the rainy season, we are yet to receive rainfall. This has made water a very scarce commodity in our village, I have to walk for three hours to access the nearest water point. Most times when am very tired due to the nature of my work, I have to spend fifty shillings per twenty litre jerican to be fetched and transported using a motorcycle while normally, l would buy a jerican at ten shillings.
