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 ($468 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?
Having accomplished the initial goal I had like starting livestock farming, an investment for the children. My new goal is to purchase a motorbike which will assist me in transporting charcoal to Mombasa where I would sell them at a higher profit. The income from this will be spent to cater to our needs. Furthermore, I will be able to engage my son in an income-generating activity since he is idle at home after completing primary school. I am worried that he may engage in the bad association since he lacks a job to keep him busy.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well for enrolling the household without requiring them to pay a registration fee. Furthermore, it has boosted the means of communication since every households own a cell phone in our village courtesy of the GiveDirectly program. I am so glad for the aid and I do not see anything that was not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my second transfer to purchase 20 goats for KES 34,000. I will be able to sell the offspring to educate my 5 children through secondary education. My job of charcoal vending earns me a little income which is all spent on food. I also spent KES 3000 to take my 3 children for circumcision since they were being mocked by their colleagues who had already under go this rite of passage. I bought enough food with the remaining amount.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 AM when I was preparing breakfast for my family when I saw a message notification on my mobile phone. when I my mobile phone I was overwhelmed with joy when I realized it was an Mpesa message from Segovia Technology. I vividly recall sharing the good news to all my family members with so much enjoy in my face. I couldn't even continue with my daily house chores due to the excitement. I finally knew that I would achieve most of my goals through financial help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Having the goats that I am currently rearing in my compound has brought the biggest difference in my daily life. I have been yearning to at least own one bit thus was achievable because they were very costly and I had some household needs to cater for. I settled for them because their pastures are readily available in my region and they reproduce faster as compared to the other domestic animals. Currently, some have started reproducing which is evident that I will have many of them within a short period. My plan is once they multiply, I will be able to sell some and start some other projects like a hotel business. Since I am jobless I believe this will be the best business idea for me. Also once my three children are transition to secondary schools and colleges I will be able to sell some and cater for their fees. My spouse is the family breadwinner and the little he earns KES 100, could not facilitate all these projects. I am so glad now that at least I assets that I can rely on in case of any financial crisis courtesy of GiveDirectly
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a huge portion of my first transfer on buying ten goats at a total of KES 30000. This has been my desire to keep them for a long but I couldn't afford it because of the financial hardships that I have been facing. In addition, I bought twenty pieces of iron sheets, nails and timber, and the labor coats of KES 5000. This was for the construction of a new house because the previous one was almost collapsing at it was very small. I oater on cleared school fees for my children who are still in primary school and bought their new uniforms as well. Nowadays, they no longer miss classes like before which is a motivation for them. With the remaining amount, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family that would sustain us for a couple of days
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wished to do more of goat farming compared to crop farming especially now that the rains are unreliable. Goats survive better in such a semi arid area. I already have 10 goats and my plan is to add 10 more at an estimated budget of KES 30,000. Selling the goats occasionally will help pay school fees for my children as well as satisfying other needs. My second plan is building a better house. The walls of my current house are falling off and the roof is porous since it is grass thatched. We spend sleepless nights in the cold especially during the rainy and cold season. A two roomed house with an iron sheet roof will be a good fit for me. I also plan to spend KES 5,000 for treating my eye which got injured four months ago.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I start my day by doing house chores before embarking on fetching firewood and preparing charcoal for sale in the bushes. I come back home late in the afternoon to do other house chores before dusk. My free time is between 19:00 hrs and 21:00 hrs before I go to sleep. This is the happiest part of my day since I take time to bond and share a meal with my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of finances has made life difficult for me year in year out. This is mainly because I cannot satisfy essential needs like food, proper shelter, education for my children and medication. This year for example, my eye was pricked by a stick while fetching firewood in the bushes. I have not been able to seek specialised medication and I am worried that I might loose my eyesight. I was referred to a specialist in Mombasa town but raising KES 10,000 for medication and transport has not been possible due to lack of income. It's been four months now. I depend on selling firewood and charcoal which earns me very little. For now, my eye is allergic to dust and smoke which has made it difficult for me to work and do other house chores like cooking.
