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 ($467 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?
My new goal is to buy more chickens for rearing. I currently have ten chickens and I would like to add more so that I can get more income that can support my family. I want to stop going to my place of work which is very far away to do casual work of farming. I am at times sickly and I am no longer able to walk long distances or do heavy work. I usually wake up at 4 am and leave my house for work at 5 am. I usually reach there at 7:30 am and I leave at 5 pm. I plan to start with 30 chickens but I currently do not have the money to buy them.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well because they enrolled everyone who belonged to the village and gave them money. They were not biased at all in their selection. The people hence improved their livelihoods with the transfers that they got.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my recent transfer money on buying two calves. I bought the calves at a total cost of KES 30000. I decided to buy them so that they can help me in the future. When they grow and become of age to calve, I will be able to get milk for the consumption of my family and I can sell the surplus to get money for making other developments such as paying school fees for my child. I also managed to buy one sheep at KES 6000. The sheep will also be of great help to me in the future since they multiply in number very fast and I can sell some to get money for doing other important things. I will thus be able to stop doing casual work of farming since I will be having a stable source of income. Apart from the above, I also spent KES 10000 paying school fees for my child who is in secondary school. Paying school fees has always been my biggest challenge. I usually get paid approximately KES 6500 per month and I usually use most of it in paying school fees for my only child. With the remaining transfer money, I used it in buying food and some household necessities. I am very happy and I thank God for everything. My life has been upgraded and I am no longer like before. May God bless you GiveDirectly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 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 work going about my usual duties when I received a message at 9 a.m. I checked my phone and realised that I had received the KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. My heart was filled with so much joy as I could now meet my family's needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It still amazes us that we have proper lighting in our home. Before receiving this cash transfer, we used to use traditional lamps but the lighting was so poor. My children had difficulty doing their studies at home because of this. Once we received the cash transfer, however, we were able to install a solar panel. We have good lighting and the children can go about their studies with no problems. I am so grateful for what GiveDirectly has done for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have two children of school-going age. They often need to study at home, but it is difficult for them because we haven't always had proper lighting, which concerned me as a mother. So I spent KES 23,000 on the installation of a solar panel. I also spent KES on foodstuff including maize and beans, so that there is enough food for the four of us. Finally, I saved KES 20,000. I plan on spending this on school fees for the next school term.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I was not fortunate enough to pursue my education but I want my daughter to prosper in her's.I'm a single mother of one and I stay with my niece. They both depend on me for their education. Since they are day scholar's they have to come back in the evening and do their homework at the house, bit I have no electricity nor a solar panel to aid in studying through the night. Sometimes they have to stay in School till late so as to use the school's electricity but I fear for their safety. I hope to use an amount of KES 17,000 for a solar panel to help in lighting and phone charging, KES 20,000 on their School fees and other school expenses. As for the remaining amount I will use on buying wiring equipment to build a house for my chicken and food for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I'm working with my colleagues at the flower farm. We get to share not only about work but also about our families and this is where I get hope to work hard for my daughter to have a better life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is insufficient finances. I work as a casual labourer at a flower farm in the neighboring county. Every end month I'm paid an income of KES 6,000 which is not enough to pay for my kinships education or better our lives by having electricity in the homestead.
