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 ($411 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been farming on an acre of land to feed my family of eight. The produce from the plot of land is insufficient for my family for the entire season, so I hope to lease more land and expand my farming activities in the coming year to produce enough food. I am currently working as a mason alongside farming, and the money I am making will help pay for the lease.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am grateful for GiveDirectly's incredible work in our community and beyond. Since their arrival, there has been a significant change in the village, with every household building a new house with a metallic roof. We used to get clean drinking water from a shopping center called Chepunyo, where we had to pay for it as well as cover transportation costs but I am glad that we currently fetch from the roof. GiveDirectly was fair to all households by enrolling us all and providing us with equal free cash transfers. If other villages followed suit, the program would be beneficial in transforming their livelihoods.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family of eight had been living in a single mud-walled and grass-thatched hut. My desire had been to build a new, spacious house, but financial constraints prevented me from doing so. A new house would save us a great deal and time since we will be fetching rainwater from the roof, as well as provide a spacious room for my entire family to stay safe from the extreme cold and leaking roof during rainy seasons. I am glad I bought 24 iron sheets at $75 each after receiving the second transfer, as well as building poles and roofing frames. We are already living in it, despite the fact that we are still furnishing the walls and interior. Furthermore, I used the remaining funds to purchase three goats, each worth $40. I am raising them with the intention of selling their offspring in the future to pay for my two children's school fees, who are currently in grade 8.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was at 4 pm and I was busy with my tailoring work when suddenly I heard my phone ringing hence notifying me of a new message. I stopped to check it since I had been eagerly waiting for an SMS bearing good news about the promised transfer. Our transfer had been delayed and most of the people in my village had already received it. I was so happy when I opened the SMS and I found out that I had also received the KES 55000. I immediately called my husband who was also so happy when I broke the wonderful news to him.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into my life and that of my family is that with having bought the sewing machine, I have managed to start a business of my own. I am now making more profit than before since I no longer have to hire the machine. The money is going to help us meet all the needs of our children comfortably.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent KES 20000 of the recent transfer money on buying a sewing machine. I have been hiring one to use at the place where I had been casually employed to do tailoring work of sewing school uniforms. It has always been my wish to buy a sewing machine and start a business of my own but I didn't have the money to do so. My husband is a mason and most of the money that we have been making from our hustles has been going to the payment of school fees for the children and paying for the medical expenses of one of our children who is sickly. Other than buying the machine, we also spent KES 17000 on treating our child who had problems with his eyes. With the remaining amount of money, we used it in buying food and clothes for the children. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for your help.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I dropped out of school after class eight since I never valued education. After staying at home for four years, I joined Siwot Technical to pursue tailoring. I completed after two years and started practice. Since then, this has been my employment. Due to limited resources, I have not been able to buy my sewing machine. I have worked for different business people just to earn a living. After gaining experience n tailoring, I decided to hire a machine and do my own business at the beginning of this year. I love this job since I have been able to see my family through. I used to be paid an average of KES 350 a day depending on the availability of work and Currently, I still earn the same after paying the machine owner. Receiving this money means independence. I am planning to use KES 20000 to buy a new sewing machine. Having one means I will enjoy all profits alone. I believe my business will grow since I will spend higher profits to buy other business materials. This will in turn help me support my family's needs, especially my children's education and other household daily needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is now 16 years working in tailoring industry. I feel good having this experience and having a network of customers. It is unfortunate that for this long I have not been able to run my tailoring shop. I would not have realized this with the overwhelming household needs depending on the pay of KES 350 a day. It is just this month when I hired a sewing machine to start my shop. This is my great pleasure. I currently enjoy a good working environment. I am hopeful that the business will grow bigger thus earn higher. I forese better days in my family because of my business.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a mother of four and struggling with chronic illness. Taking care of my family's needs with the earning of approximately KES 350 is so challenging. My second-born daughter has a chronic illness too which requires special treatment every month. I feel so bad looking at her in this status with little help. My daughter's illness and my health status are my current challenges.
