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
55000 KES ($450 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With the first transfer, I bought two bulls that I will look after and sell in one years time, my plan is to use the money to build a permanent house of at least three rooms for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Giving us unconditional and free cash, was a good way of at least reducing poverty since we can all handle our financial problems differently and in the best way we could.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my second transfer to buy a piece of land ( one point) that I will be building a house soon, We have never owned a home so a family member offered to give us a room to live in and it was not enough for five people. I would sleep here with my husband and send my children to sleep over at our neighbours place.
With the ksh 5000 that remained, I paid school fees for my highschool son to reduce the arrears.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($467 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the money around 9:00 PM right after a dinner with my children. I was getting ready to sleep when I received a notification that after checking it up, I got the best news that I wasn't expecting then. I could not hesitate but shared the news with my children who were equally very excited.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the peace of mind I am currently enjoying after clearing the school fees for my two daughters, obtaining enough foodstuff for my household, and the break from the casual labor that I had been struggling with. Everything changed and life became better in our household since everyone is so happy at the moment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a single mother of four, it has never been easy providing for my children both at home and meeting their financial obligations in school. I was so happy to receive this support that I had to clear KES 25000 arrears for my two sons who had completed their secondary school studies but could not collect their certificates since we had an enormous debt. They are now happy with their certificates at hand and hoping to use them once an opportunity to further their studies comes up. I also spent KES 17000 on a bullock that I am rearing with the intent to sell it out later at a profit that would enable me to bring in a dairy cow. At the moment, the cost of livestock had been so high, and a bullock was the cheapest and most appropriate since I deemed it to grow faster. In addition, I spent KES 5900 of the remaining amount on obtaining a bag of maize and rice for foodstuff for my family of five, and the remaining amount on general outfits for my daughter. I am grateful for the support and looking forward to doing a lot more with the second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I relocated a year ago from Transmara with my four children after having several feuds with my brothers and I was given a house to stay here with by a colleague. This transfer will be a relief to me because I plan to buy 0.1 acres of land and build a house for my family and grow food for my children in it. I also plan to settle school arrears for my two children so that when they join their final year, they will be comfortable studying.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The efforts that I put into ensuring that my children go to school are not in vain since I see major improvements in their grades. This gives me joy and optimism that they will do well in their final exams.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The major challenge that I am having currently is financial constraints. I do casual jobs that allow me to earn money for my children's upkeep. It does not give me the flexibility of saving since all the amount that I get goes into buying food and paying school fees.
