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 ($520 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference is that I now get a daily income which we never used to see before. My husband used to do house construction jobs which are always available on an on and off basis, which makes life quite unpredictable. However, today things are different because my husband uses the motorbike to ferry passengers at a fee which then we use to take care of our financial needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I think that the organization has come through for so many people who had very low financial abilities like myself. There are people who have built new houses, others used their money to pay school fees for their children while others started businesses. To be honest, such kind of changes and developments would have taken so many years to be witnessed in this locality.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfer to buy a second-hand motorbike which my husband uses to ferry passengers at a fee. The motorbike has so far helped our family so much because we are sure that my spouse can never come back home empty handed like he used to do on so many occasions in the past when he used to work as a casual laborer in the building and construction industry.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am able to get three meals a day. Previously we could only have one meal a day due to lack of money. I was able to save some amount from the first transfer which helps me a lot in buying food. My health has greatly improved because I eat well and I am less depressed unlike before.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt very happy the moment I received the transfer. I had woken up at around 6:00 pm and the first thing as my normal routine was checking my phone but this particular day there was a message. One unread message. I hurriedly opened the message and when I realized that it was from GiveDirectly, I could not hide the joy that came after. I struggled to stay calm. After a while when the message had sunk in, I started planning to make sure every coin was accounted for.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on purchasing two dairy cows for milk production. I intended to sell some of the milk and spare some for my family. Apart from that, I also bought four goats. I will later sell their offsprings when the need arises. Part of the money went on purchasing a mattress and a bed. I used to sleep on old bedding which was uncomfortable. I finally spent the remaining amount to buy food that could last us for a while.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wished to own a sardines business so that I can be in a position to earn some income in order to help my husband take care of the family.His work as a casual labourer in Mombasa town does not generate enough money thus the burden of providing for the family's needs single handedly, has really been weighing down on him lately. With this money, I will not only be able to realise my dream of setting up my sardines business, My husband will also be able to buy a brand new motorbike to be operating in Mombasa thus making him to be more sure of his source of income since he will be self employed.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when the whole family is gathered in my father in laws house to share the evening meal as he narrates stories about their past ways of living to us. For the better part of the day, All of us adults are normally engaged in the fields either farming,herding or burning charcoal as the children are away in school. The only time that we get to converge back home and have time as a family is mostly in the evenings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is financial instability. I do not have any job and the income that my husband gets from doing casual jobs in Mombasa is hardly enough to sustain his stay there and also take care of us at home. The most that he manages to send me every week is ksh.300.This amount is hardly enough to buy food and take care of other household expenses. Seeing him stressed most of the time at his incapability to provide for the family as he had hoped for ends up stressing me a lot too.
