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 ($502 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My spouse has been operating a charcoal business even before GiveDirectly came into my region. But then the business had collapsed recently because we were using the capital most of the capital to fulfill our needs since it was our major source of income. Therefore after receiving the first transfer, I managed to revive it and its currently it's doing so well. On the other hand owning is also assuring me that my life will transform greatly. I will sell the milk and save the money to settle all the bills which include school fees and other household items. The two projects make my life different and I don't think I would have achieved all these if it were not for GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did everything so well by first making the visit to our village so formal. We were first called in a meeting and the Gd staff trained us well on how to use the money appropriately and they made sure everyone understood every concept. Lastly, they told us that the money is unconditionally meaning we were to decide to ourselves on how we would wish to spend the money. I do not see any sector GD failed us.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on clearing school fees for my son who joined secondary school recently. I then spent KES 30000 to buy two dairy cows as my living assets. This is what I will depend on just in case of any financial crisis. I then bought some beddings such as a bed and a mattress at a total of KES 8000. This was for my children because their previous bed was very small and some had to sleep on the mats. The remaining amount of money I am using it in buying some enough foodstuffs for the family and some other household that I was lacking.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
My husband has been operating business of supplying charcoal in the city. This business helped us settle some bills although the profit was not enough to fulfil most of the family basic needs and also educating our children. Our biggest ambition was to see this business expanding but the chances were minimal due to limited resources. However, when I received my transfer, I invested KES 40000 into this and I am expecting increased returns soon. This will be the biggest difference in my daily life. Through income, fulfilling our basic needs will not be a problem. In addition to that, we will be able to save and invest in other profitable projects.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw a Mpesa confirmation message early that morning. When I checked what the message was all about, I realized Give Directly had sent me the first transfer. I felt happy about this message because it came as a surprise. I knew they would definitely send it although I didn't expect it would be that day. This message gave me hope of transforming my life completely.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
My husband has been operating business of supplying charcoal in the city. This has been our major source of income. When I received my first transfer, I invested KES 40000 in this business and purchased more bags of charcoal. I am expecting good returns from this investment. In addition to that. I also spent KES 8000 of this money to purchase a metallic door to replace the wooden door that had broken a long time ago. Apart from that, I also spent KES 5000 to buy a new mattress and replaced the old bedding that I have been using for almost a decade now.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Having a sustainable business when all the household needs entirely depend on the income generated in there is something that can be very frustrating. At the moment, I bake and sell roti (otherwise known as 'Chapati') together with other few household commodities on a small scale. And frankly speaking, the business growth has been stagnant over the months and this worries me a lot. Receiving this money, therefore, means I will be in a position to expand it into a bigger hotel. This will, in turn, bring in more income that can meet the needs of the family with much ease. For the other part of the transfers, I intend to invest in livestock raising. This to me is the best way to save and it will guarantee my children a better education in the future since school fees will be less a problem.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon has always been the happiest part of my day. As an upcoming business lady, my day is always packed with activities, especially in the morning. I wake up as early as five o'clock, to prepare 'Chapati' and being one of the favorite breakfast accompaniment, it is always in high demand in the morning and that explains how busy my mornings are. In the evening, I go around collecting money and purchasing the stock ready for the next day's business. In the afternoon is when I get time to rest and that makes it the best part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of adequate resources has been the biggest hardship in my life. For the past seven years, it has been a real struggle, I didn't even have a place to call home, and at some point, I had to go back to my parents due to poverty that was so overwhelming. It took the help of the relatives for us to have a roof over our heads. In last year but one, I left my children behind and went to Mombasa to seek employment opportunities. This again came with a lot of challenges; for a mother to be away from her children it can be very devastating and that is what I underwent. Now that we are going to receive aid from Give Directly, it is indeed an exciting moment in our lives. I will no longer have to worry about where my next meal will come from or where the children will sleep.
