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 ($468 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
It has always been our dream to own a retail shop and restaurant in our locality one day so that we can operate it. I am happy that we were able to acquire a motorcycle using our recent transfer and we are planning to be saving part of our daily income and later take a loan and use it to achieve our goal. For the past month that my spouse has been offering taxi business using the motorcycle, he has been earning at least 1000 a day and since we are still young family, I am hopeful that we will achieve our aim very soon.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I had never seen or heard of an organization that gives out financial aid that is not a loan until the day I heard about GiveDirectly and experienced it first hand. I believe that this is what they do best and I do not see anything that they do not do well. This is because, with cash, one can be able to accomplish most things in life when they have a good plan.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We used to depend on a poultry project and crop farming before GiveDirectly came for enrollment. With a young family, we saw the need of having another source of income since we knew that we will have more responsibilities when we have children. Due to this, we decided to spend KES 37000 to purchase a motorcycle after topping up some amount from our savings. My spouse is currently using it to offer taxi services while I concentrate on farming and poultry projects. In addition, I spent KES 3000 buying two seats since the ones we had was old-fashioned that usually made people feel uncomfortable sitting on them, and we had only three. Also, I used KES 2500 to pay a deposit for a solar panel and battery for lighting purposes so that I can be paying for them in installments of KES 60 daily for the next two years and spent the remaining KES 10000 on food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home enjoying a cup of tea when I heard my phone ringing, I was full of happiness when I saw a Mpesa notification showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly, I then inform my husband of the wonderful news, I Was certain that I will be able to buy a dairy cow just the way I had planned. It was the happiest day in our lives and we are so grateful that the transfer came at the right time of need.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now own a dairy cow, My children would be getting milk for daily consumption hence I will be able to save the cost of milk, at the same time I bought a solar lamp so that we could save on the cost of fuel we use daily in lighting. I am happy that my future is promising because of the money that turned my life into a new living standard. I am so grateful for the support that impacted my life to a very admirable one.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer I already had plans in place on how to spend my transfer, this made my work easier when the transfer came, therefore I used kes 37,000 in buying a dairy cow that I could not afford all these years due to financial constraints, I am relieved that I would be saving on the cost of milk, I then used KES 2500 in buying a solar lamp for lighting so that we would save on the cost of fuel.lastly I used the remaining amount of money on foodstuffs and clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have always wanted to have a dairy cow. My husband income is meagre and coupled with other needs of the family affording a dairy cow is a tall order for us . If we get this money we will be able to buy a dairy cow for production of milk for household consumption and to sell the surplus to earn a living. we intend to buy a cow of USD 300. The rest of the money of approximately USD 700 we intend to furnish our house with descent furnitures and fittings.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Iam usually happy in the morning .This is so because in the morning there no impediments or hardships that I have gone through,the day is still new. As the day unfolds is when I meet other challenges like looking for food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship is inadequate food ,maize no longer do well like before ,many a times they are affected by pest and disease. Also our area is dry most of the time and therefore maize does not do well. This leaves us with the option of buying from the market,sometimes it is not affordable . My husband is a casual labourer and I am a house wife.The income we get cannot sustain us well .we live each day with this challenge expecting things to change for the better.
