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 ($467 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Having been living in a small shelter, GiveDirectly enabled me to construct a bigger shelter which I can now host visitors and my family comfortably. I was also able to achieve my other goal of getting a milking cow.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Living in a lowly village, GiveDirectly has impacted lives ensuring growth and improvement in each and every household.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having received KES 53000, I was in a position to fulfil some of the goals I had such as buying a milking cow at KES 20000 which I milk and sell the produce to accrue more income. I was also able to complete building a permanent bigger home for my family and I at KES 15000. In addition, I was able to pay up my kids school fees of KES 7000 ensuring they do not miss classes by getting sent home for balances. Being a farmer by passion, I bought seedlings at KES 3000, and spent a further KES 3000 paying for labour to plough the farm. I also bought a bag of maize at KES 2500 which I have stored for future use.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11pm while asleep with my family when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. Upon checking, it was the eagerly awaited GiveDirectly transfers I was very happy and immediately informed my family who were couldn't hold back their joy and we could hardly sleep the better part of that night.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is happiness because through the transfers I now have a more spacious house which can accommodate my family and visitors as well. I am also excited because my daughter's fees is paid and can't be happier.This is because, I normally rely on farming and quarry work in order to pay school fees and feed my family as well.These income sources would proof unreliable especially in my place most of the time due to long dry spells.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer on building a 24- Iron roofed two roomed semi permanent house.This is because initially, I had a tiny room which served both as a kitchen and a bedroom. I spent the rest on payment of my daughter's fees and on two young goats as a future investment.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this means a better house for my family. I live in a one-roomed house which serves as the kitchen at the same time sleeping area and is not enough to accommodate my growing family of 3. Working at a quarry as a casual laborer is not reliable because I do not get customers frequently. In a month, I can sell six tonnes of gravel stones at around KES 3,600. This money is not enough to cater for school fees for my spouse in secondary school and other family basic needs such as food and clothing. I will be very happy to receive this money as it will help me purchase building materials and pay for labor at the cost of KES 40,000 and the rest of the money I will pay school fees for my wife.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For the past few years we have not had a bumper harvest from our farms due to lack of consistent rains and crop diseases that affect maize. This year has been different and we thank God for the rains because it means enough food for my family of 3. I have planted maize in the 1/2 acre piece of land that I own and it is doing well. I can harvest 3 bags of maize from it which will relieve me from the burden of purchasing. Knowing that we will have enough food has brought me happiness in the last 6 months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge I am facing currently is financial constraints. I do casual jobs at a nearby quarry site as it is the only job available in my area. I dropped out of school in secondary level hence I cannot secure a better job. It is very tiresome and lack proper tools to use in mining makes it a difficult environment to work thus less production. From this I fetch little money at the end of the day which equals KES 3.600 per month. With this I am unable to pay KES 12,000 school fees for my wife in secondary level and at the same cater for family basic needs like food which costs KES 150 per day.
