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 ($492 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 life is different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow and two goats. Due to this, I am now happy that in the next few months, I will not be buying milk anymore as I used to before. Also, these are assets that I can depend on in case of financial crisis by selling it's young ones when they reproduce.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid to peoole and I do not see anything that they did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30000 from my transfers to buy a heifer and two goats for rearing. I settled on this so that I will have some income when they reproduce. Buying the heifer will also enable me to save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk when it calves. Also, these are assets to me that I can depend on in case of financial crisis. In addition to this, I spent KES 7000 on clothing's and KES 3000 on food and other household necessities for my family. Using the remaining, I cleared the debts that I owed different people so that my mind would be at peace knowing that I owed no one anything.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had gone away from home when I received the Mpesa SMS saying that I had received the lump sum amount of Kshs. 55000/= from GiveDirectly. I was so excited about seeing this. My wife immediately called me, I think she had heard some of the neighbors celebrating after seeing the SMS too. I confirmed to her the good news and she was so happy to hear it. We gave thanks and started planning on what we were going to do with the fortune.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
This transfer has brought a very big difference in my life and that of my family. Having completed building the kitchen house, I am stress-free, I no longer have worries about where I am going to get money to complete it. Any other big sum of money that I will be getting henceforth, I can use it on other developments. I will also take of the calf and when it grows and reproduces, I will be able to get milk that my family can consume and I can sell some. The money from milk sales will enable me to invest in other important things. With the food that I bought, that is the two bags of maize, my family will have something to consume for quite a while and hence there will be no worries about what we are going to eat. Thank you GiveDirectly for making this happen.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer from GiveDirectly has helped me in a big way that I had never imagined. I bought some trees with part of the money and sawed timber. The timber has helped me in completing the construction of a kitchen house that I had started. I also managed to buy two bags of maize and some clothes for my children. With the remaining amount, I bought a calf with it. I have always had the plan to complete constructing the kitchen house but due to lack of money, I have not been able to. I usually do casual jobs and the money from these casual jobs is only enough to cater to food and other basic needs. I have never had such a large of money and I was wondering where I will be able to get it. So when I received the promised transfer from GiveDirectly, I saw an opportunity for me to do what I have always desired to do.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Living in a single house that's acts as both kitchen and bedroom is not enough for my growing family. I have been dreaming of one day building another but I have not to manage due lack of enough money. Receiving this money will assist to purchase building materials and start building.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Midday is my happiest part of the day. It is at this time because I usually get time to talk with my fellow villager's sharing some challenges and how we can solve them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of enough food is the biggest hardship we have faced as a family. My main source of income is depending on casual jobs and to get this is rare because nearly everyone in my village depends on it.
