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 almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My additional goal in life is to continue practicing timely cultivation. With this, food security will be enhanced in my household and I can be able to channel all the money that I will be getting from doing some casual work to pay school fees for my children on time. I believe that this will result in a change in their performance since they will not be constantly out of school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
With the transfer, we were able to feed well and our children were able to continue with their studies. In addition, people were able to do some developments that would not have been possible had GiveDirectly not decided to give out an unconditional transfer. To me, this is the best thing one can do when the ultimate goal is to alleviate poverty.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have five children in different levels of education and paying their school fees has been a challenge to me since I depend on doing any available casual work in the village. When I received the transfers from GiveDirectly, I spent it on the purchase of two heifers at KES 15000 each. These are investments to me that I can rely on in case of a financial crisis like paying school fees. Also, I spent KES 10000 to pay school fees for my children who had been sent back home and used the remaining KES 12700 on food, clothes, and two plastic seats that people can use while resting outside.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 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 10 a.m and was home just doing my house chores when I had a vibration from my phone. When I checked, it was a message confirming a receipt of promised cash transfer from Give directly. I was grateful since I already had plans in place and sent my helper to withdraw the money the following day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the completion of the new house. Giving directly has made my dream come through since I did not have hopes that one day I would own iron sheets roofed house. In addition, this has also allowed me to harvest clean rainwater for use.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been living in a grass-thatched house that couldn't accommodate all the family members. With the transfer, I spent Kshs.50,000 in purchasing 45 iron sheets, timber, nails, and labor charges in the construction of a two-roomed house. I am glad that the house is almost complete and soon we will move in and also am happier than I have somewhere to host my visitors. With the remaining amount, I used to buy maize and some clothing for my household members. I am grateful to Give directly to this great support and looking forward to doing more with my second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We are growing older as days go and my dream has always been to own a good spacious house. Receiving this money will enable me to build a two bed-roomed house unlike now we share the sleeping area with my two grown up children. This means there is no much privacy such that when their father is around they are forced to go and sleep at a neighbours place which is risky for them to move around at night. I plan on spending KES 45,000 in construction of the house: KES 16,000 in purchasing 20 pieces of iron sheets, KES 20,000 on sand and cement and KES 9,000 in Labour. This will be a relief to my family and we shall live comfortably thereafter.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am spending time with my husband and children. I mostly spend the better part of my day looking after my cows in the grazing field. I get to rest in the evening after milking and delivering milk for sale at the shopping center.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We solely depend on farming here but crop failure for several years has been a worrying trend.This is due to drought and maize which is our staple food does not do well because of crop diseases that we have not been able to find the best pesticides to control it. We are forced to look for other alternatives like doing casual work in order to get money to buy food stuff.
