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 ($428 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I intend to start a project of rearing chicken both layers and broiler. With this, I will be able to sell them and settle the most pressing need in the family as a supplement to the other income-generating jobs that my wife and I undertake.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I appreciate every piece of advice I got during enrollment, and even the freedom of spending to meet my needs was a good gesture. I have nothing bad about the whole process and everyone in the village is still praising GiveDirectly for the generous support they gave us. Long live GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living in a small dilapidated house with my three children and wife is such a difficult situation for a parent. We always live in fear not knowing when the house will come down and we will be left homeless. Upon receiving the second transfer, amidst so many responsibilities the first priority was to see that the house was at least renovated. I set out to buy all the required materials for the construction, I spent $200 which is inclusive of the mason fee. My family is now grateful to have a decent house to shelter. My wife and I are livestock and cash crop, farmers. We bought one dairy cow for $220, which produces at least two liters of milk daily that we sell and buy whatever we do not have in the house. I also replaced our old bedding and bought a few pairs of clothes for the entire family at a cost of $80. I spent the remaining $30 on groceries that would last us for a while. Without the assistance of GiveDirectly, it would not have been simple, thus we are thankful.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my transfer, I was at the fields herding. Suddenly, I heard my phone ringing. Upon checking, I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was so excited and happy because I knew that I would be able to accomplish my goals. I immediately rushed home and broke the news to my wife who was happy and grateful. We embarked on planning how when we would cash out the transfer and how we would utilize it. We are indeed grateful for the support that lifted our living standards and brought so much happiness into our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Purchasing a dairy cow within a short period is a dream come true and it is the biggest difference in my daily life. This has been my dream for a long time but I was unable to achieve it due to financial constraints. But today I am happy and grateful that I was able to realise this dream with my initial transfer. Additionally, I was able to buy enough foodstuffs and clothes for my family. I luck words to express how grateful I am to the organization for the immense support that lifted our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon the receipt of my transfer, I thought of purchasing a dairy cow so that I would have sufficient milk for our consumption. This is because I normally depend on the milk that I get from my parent's home, though it is not always enough since we are many. Therefore I used KES 30,000 on buying a cow which I was Unable to purchase before due to financial constraints because I depend on farming which is no longer profitable due to harsh weather conditions affecting our crops. I am married and blessed with three children. I then used the remaining amount on foodstuffs and clothes. I am grateful for the support that made me accomplish my goals in a short time.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live next to a milk cooling plant and I have desired to venture into dairy farming so that I can capitalize on the impressive milk prices that this plant offer to farmers. They buy milk at KES 60 which is way above what milk vendors are offering. At the moment I do crop farming which is not doing well because of unfavorable weather conditions such as long periods of drought. In January this year, I planted maize and beans in my 0.5-acre piece of land only for it to wither 3months later. These losses have hindered me from achieving my dream of owning a dairy cow. I am happy that I can see light at the end of the tunnel because I have been enrolled and there is hope that my dream will soon come true. I intend to use KES 35,000 from my transfer to buy a Friesian breed that will produce 7liters of milk daily. Receiving this money will be a new beginning for my family as I will not have to over-rely on crop farming alone.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to the dry nature of this place, I plant drought-resistant crops like sweet potatoes and cassava. I am happy right now because for the last 1 week I have managed to harvest 3bags of sweet potatoes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the main challenge that I deal with on a daily basis. I entirely depend on farming to feed my family but I always get poor harvest due to unfavorable weather conditions. I have tried to seek other sources of livelihood, like looking for employment opportunities but I have always been turned away because I am a class two dropout with no skills to offer. This has forced me to painfully stick to farming even though it is not doing well
