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 ($466 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?
Our new goal is to buy a cow and a sheep. We would like to buy them so that they can help us in the future with the children's school fees. We can get milk when the cow calves which we can sell and get money. The sheep will also reproduce and multiply in number. We can sell one of the offspring when we face an emergency that requires us to have some money. We have three children who are in secondary school and one who is in primary school. We do not have stable jobs and hence we usually depend on casual jobs of farming to earn a living. The money that we get from the casual jobs is what we usually use in buying food and paying school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well because they taught us well in the meeting and also when they visited our household. We learned a lot and hence I do not see anything wrong with the way they do their work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent KES 20000 of the recent transfer on paying school fees for our three children who are in secondary school. We managed to pay for two academic terms and hence they have been able to study well without being disturbed. We have hence been able to rest a bit and have had some peace of mind because the children have not been sent home due to arrears. We also bought 3 bags of maize for our consumption at a total cost of KES 12000. The maize has sustained us for a while since the casual jobs that we usually do were no longer easily available. Other than the above, we also bought some chairs at a total cost of KES 7000 and the rest of the money we used in buying some household utensils. We are hence glad and grateful to GiveDirectly for their help.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 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 9.30 a.m and was at home alone when I heard a notification message on my phone. Upon checking,I couldn't believe the great news.I was glad that it was indeed the promised funds from Givedirectly.I thanked God that the time to construct a new house was finally here.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a spacious modern house which can accommodate all my family members.I am grateful to Givedirectly for this support that has brought new hope to our family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my first transfer, I was so eager to start building a new house because the one we had was too old and very small. I immediately went and withdrew the transfer and bought all construction materials which amounted to Kshs.30,000.We have currently moved to our newly constructed three very spacious bedroom house. With Kshs.25,000 I cleared pending school fees for my children who are in high school.At least they can study without thinking that they can be sent home any time to collect fees.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have 2 children who are still in high school and another who has since completed but yet to join college because of lack of school fees. My desire has always been to give my children the best as far as education is concerned. I feel that their hope of ever completing their studies is diminishing every passing day. Receiving this money would mean the world to me as it will help me clear arrears of KES 15000 as well as having my firstborn daughter in college.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the morning when I wake up, I get to discuss a lot of things with my husband before he goes to work. Among the many things that we discuss are the activities of the day. This conversation is always the source of hope for a better tomorrow and this, therefore, makes morning the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Having to feed my family is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life. I entirely depend on farming as a source of livelihood but because of persistent drought that is often witnessed in this area, all we get is losses year in year out. Last year, for example, I harvested half a sack of maize from my 1-acre piece of land. This is just a drop in the sea considering that I have a family of 6 to feed for the rest of the year.
