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 ($463 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to start up a maize vendor business. Currently, I am waiting for my heifer to reproduce so that I can sell to get capital. This start-up will assist me in earning extra income hence will be able to meet other household needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well by giving unconditional cash transfers to all households in my village. Every household benefited and it is evident in the projects that everyone did from the construction of iron-roofed houses, water tanks, dairy cows, and even most people soon are going to harvest crops they planted.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my second transfer, I obtained a heifer with KES 23,000. This was an addition to my livestock hence once it reproduces it will give me more milk and will sell to get an extra income. I also spent KES 10,000 in clearing arrears for my two daughters in secondary school. I am happy they were able to study without being sent home to collect fees. With KES 10,000 I bought a water tank. This will assist us harvest water during rainy seasons hence will save us from walking long distances to collect water. I spent KES 2,000 I used in going to get medication after I got sick. The remaining amount, I used in purchasing food for my family members. I am thankful to God and Givedirectly for transforming my household.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 1p.m and was on my farm herding my livestock when I received a message on my phone. When I checked, it was an MPESA message from Give directly. I was so excited since this meant I was soon going to initiate all the plans that I had written down. I was very thankful to God and Give directly at large.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving the correct medication has brought me a lot of joy. I am so grateful I was able to go for medication and got the correct diagnosis.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving my first transfer,I prioritized on clearance of school fees arrears with Kshs.20,000.My daughters had been sent home that day to collect but since I depended on a small business could not clear early after I quited because of my health condition.With Kshs, 5,000 I used to cater for my hospital bill.I am happy that I am doing great and my health is improving day by day.I spent Kshs.15,000 in purchasing a water tank.I am thankful that currently had ees-20k-Secondary for my daughters-Had arrears .But had stopped doing business since I was sick hence couldn't cater for fees.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that we shall be able to clear school fees balance for our two children in secondary school. It also means that we shall be able to have an added income source for our family and therefore be able to meet most of our needs. We are supposed to pay KES. 30000 annually in school fees and at the moment we have been selling trees we planted our land though it has not solved the problem because we managed to raise KES. 12000 only. I have been worrying a lot about where I would get the remaining amount of KES. 18000. We are so grateful to GiveDirectly for enrolling us because we will now be able to clear this amount and also pay for the next academic year. We would also like to purchase two dairy cows and we estimate that we shall be able to make KES. 7000 on average monthly from the sale of milk. This will be an added income source for us which doubles the amount we usually make on a normal month. With all these, we foresee a bright future and improved quality of life for our family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We were gifted 300 kilograms of maize 3 months ago by a family friend who moved from this place last year and this brought me a lot of happiness. The maize was able to sustain us for 2 months and it was a big relief because we were able to save the money we would have spent on food and put it to buying textbooks for my school-going children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are currently in a dire shortage of food. Maize is our staple crop but we have not been able to produce it on our farm for the last 7 years due to diseases and unpredictable rainfall patterns. Our diet has been affected to a great extent and we have been skipping lunch lately. It gets even worse for my children because they have to attend afternoon classes on an empty stomach. It pains me so much as a parent to see them undergoing this. My child also who completed high school would like to pursue higher education but we do not have any money to take her to college. I am worried she might be married off soon at a very tender age when she has not matured enough to learn how to sustain a family.
