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 ($524 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 different that it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I now meet my family expenses with less struggles especially the fact that I no longer face embarrassments of borrowing from my friends and neighbors money . As a farmer, before I would have challenges of harsh weather which resulted to getting low yields that affected my income tremendously. With GiveDirectly's transfers I have applied modernized methods of planting and looking at the maize and beans I cultivated with GiveDirectly's transfer their output are really promising . Secondly, I am glad that I own three dairy cows which I get three litters of milk for my household consumption and also source income through selling the surplus milk.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion , GiveDirectly uplifted the living standards of those who were less unfortunate in my community through giving them money that was not refundable . The beneficiaries have acquired livestock , new shelters and started small business . I do not see what GiveDirectly did wrong at its work.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent 35,000 KES of my second transfer to buy dairy cow and add onto the two dairy cows, I had bought with first transfer in order to increase my milk supply and source extra income from that . Today , on a daily basis I sell three litters which is a recommendable increase . I built a chicken cope and stocked chicken to start up a chicken rearing project . The remaining amount I bought food for my family's consumption .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
There is a big difference in my daily life now compared to how it was before. First, my family now lives in a spacious house which guarantees us the privacy we need. Also, I no longer buy milk as I did before and this has enabled me to save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk. When it reproduces, I will be selling some milk and use the money I will be getting to pay my children's school fees.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 4 am when I received a message alert. Since I was awake and having a chat with my wife, I decided to check to know its content. Upon realizing that GiveDirectly had finally sent us the promised money, I requested my wife to make us tea as we went through what we had planned. I knew that our lives would never be the same again and this made me so happy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I bought some building materials and also paid a mason for the work of building a house for my family. We had been living in a small one-room house that could not host all my family members comfortably. Also, as parents, we could not always have our privacy as we had to sleep with our children in the same room. Also, I bought a dairy cow so that it would relieve me of the cost of buying milk daily. I will also be selling some milk to my neighbors so that I can earn an income to use in meeting our household necessities. I used the remaining amount on farming by purchasing maize and bean seeds.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that i will be able to construct a more spacious house since the one we currently live in is one roomed and serves as a kitchen, living room as well as bedroom. I will then use the remaining part of my transfer to build a kitchen coop that will enable me to venture into poultry farming. I also have in mind the plan to buy barbed wire and wire mesh to fence around my compound.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My typical day entails working in construction sites throughout the day. This work is so involving and drains my energy hence i am most happy in the evening when i am back home to take a rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The kind of casual job i do is house construction, an occupation that earns me a little income that i depend on mainly to provide basic needs for my family. This means that i haven't been able to build up savings that would enable me to venture into bigger projects that could enable me to be financially independent, eg starting up a business. This is what i consider as the biggest hardship i have faced.