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?
My goal now is to save some money to purchase a shaft cutter machine. This will ease my work on the dairy-keeping project that I have started. I bought a dairy cow with the first transfer and I wish to ensure that I keep it well for higher milk production.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The training and the registration programs were done well by GiveDirectly and most of the people who received the transfer spent it well. This has improved their living standard. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well in our village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend KES 35,000 on purchasing a piece of land. I have always wished to own a piece of land but this was not possible since I do not have a stable source of income. I depend on small-scale farming and my job as a driver. The amount of money that I get is so small and it's only for basic household needs. I was not able to save any amount. Currently, I have a piece of land and I am looking forward to building a house and relocating with my family. Besides that, I will plant more Napier grass for my dairy cow. I res of the money I spent on food, clothes, and household items. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($483 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I am a matatu driver, married and blessed with three children, When I received my transfer, my major goal was for me to buy a dairy cow to cut down on the cost of buying milk daily, it was expensive because we use two litres daily where a litre sells at KES 75, therefore, I used KES 45,000 in buying a dairy cow, I was unable to accumulate all the money at once to purchase one due to unreliable source of income, I had a cow before but I was forced to sell it to revive my business, Finally, I used the remaining transfer in buying foodstuffs and clothes for my family, I am so grateful for the great milestone that I achieved in a short while.
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 no longer worry about the cost of buying milk daily. This will also mean that I will be able to save up the money that I used in buying milk for other things, In addition to that, the health of my family as a whole will be nourished. I am so grateful for the support that impacted our lives by enabling me to realise my goal in a short time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The moment I received my transfer, I was on transit, this is because I am a driver, I can vividly recall that I had my phone vibrating loudly, in my pocket, upon checking what the message was about, that was when I saw a Mpesa text showing that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly, I was so happy, though I chose not to share the good news with any of the passengers, for my safety, I had a plan in place on how I would spend my transfer thus I am grateful for the support that came to uplift our lives.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My wife is a class five dropout and she is so passionate about dairy farming because she feels that it is an easy job she can do now that she did not get the best education. I am employed as a truck driver and I earn KES 10000 which I spend on my children's school fees. I plan to surprise my wife by buying her two quality Friesian cows each worth KES 25000. These cows will give us an additional source of income because they will produce 6-8 liters of milk every day which we will sell at KES 40 per liter. My children will also get milk to their satisfaction because right now I buy 1-liter daily which is hardly enough for a family of 5
What is the happiest part of your day?
My employer is the most understanding person you can think of. Last year in December I had no money and my children were sent home because of school fees. I went and explain to him and he lent me KES 15000 and that made me very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability is the top most challenge that I face right now. I work as a truck driver earning KES 10000 per month. The needs of my family are so many compared to the amount I earn and this has forced me into debts that are troubling as we speak. I pay school fees amounting to KES 18000 every term for my 3-children. I have a loan of KES 50000 I took from a bank 2-years ago and the fact that I cannot afford to pay is something that is giving me sleepless nights.
