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?
At the moment, my new aspiration in life is to buy a piece of land so that I can be using it to graze my cattle. This is because I currently take them to feed on the grass that grows by the roadside and there's competition since other people also graze their goats there. I will also be planting some animal feeds in a portion of this land so that apart from feeding on the natural grass, there will be enough feeds especially during the dry season.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Unlike other organizations that give out aid to people, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid in lumpsum. People can in turn use this money to improve their livelihoods in different ways. I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We used to live in a small house that could not accommodate us comfortably as we had no extra room for our children and a place where visitors would sleep whenever they visited. Due to this, we agreed as a family to spend KES 15000 from our recent transfer to expand a room from our main house. In addition, I spent KES 20000 to purchase six sheep as an investment. I settled on this since they increase in number over a short time and they can easily be converted to cash when faced with financial challenges. I spent the remaining KES 17000 on foodstuffs and clothes for my children.
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 still early in the morning as I was feeding my livestock when I received a message alert on my phone. Upon reading it, I became so happy and believed in GiveDirectly's promises and quickly rushed back home as I was eager to relay the good news to the other family members since we had plans in place. Everyone was equally excited to receive the news at home, and my children could not resist reminding me that I needed to obtain some new clothes as I had promised them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The additional assets that I recently acquired using part of my transfer have changed my life since I would not have been able to buy them on my own. I believe that they will start reproducing and increase in number very soon and I will be using income from the sale of surplus to meet our basic needs on time and to pay school fees for my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to buy a dairy cow worth KES 24000 and six goats at KES 15000 as a way of investing this money. I will be selling the goats and use the money in paying school fees for my children. In addition, I will be using income from the sale of milk when the cow calves meet our basic needs. Using the remaining KES 15000, I bought two sacks of maize, other kinds of foodstuffs, and clothes for my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I can finally buy a piece of land . I live on about half an acre piece land that belongs to my father . My dairy cow does not get sufficient grass here.As a result, they produce only about 2 liters a day, an income of KES 80 per day. I will buy about half an acre to increase where to graze them at about KES 75000. I will also buy a dairy cow at about KES 30000. This will boost milk production to earn me about KES 300 per day. This will sufficiently cater for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon. This is when I have many customers who visit my kiosk for a shave. It makes me happy as this is the time when my business is an actively generating and income that solves my food needs problem.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I currently face is food insecurity. I work as a barber, that pays me about KES 100 per day. It is barely enough for household needs that cost about KES 200 per day. My family stays hungry sometimes but I always try to manage going for menial jobs just to buy food.
