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?
Yes. I have a new additional goal buying and selling goats. Goats are the main livestock people rear in our area and their demand is high. I will be buying them at lower prices from farmers and later selling them in the market for a profit. The income I will earn from it added to the income I currently earn from charcoal sales will be a boost for my family's needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly did great work by empowering the needy financially. Giving money without demanding anything in return was the best idea. Peoples' living standards have improved without them having to borrow a loan. On the other hand, there is nothing they are not doing right.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 10000 on a new business of selling second-hand clothes. Previously, I relied on burning charcoal for sale. Being a woman, it was hectic wandering in search of logs for charcoal. It not only consumed much of my energy but my health was negatively affected too. I still do the charcoal business but as intensive as before because I now have an additional income. KES 43000 of the money I spent on the building materials (nails, timber) and labor for extending a room for my house. I had a single room but it was too small to fit my family of 5. Since the income I earned from charcoal could not afford a bigger house, we had to squeeze in it. I am glad we now have our privacy since the children have their separate sleeping rooms.
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?
I was outside my house relaxing after walking a long distance looking for water. I heard message ringtone from my phone signaling a new SMS in it. I immediately took the phone to my helper's house to verify it. I was so excited when it finally settled to my ears that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly as promised during the enrolment stages.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Living in a decent and specious house with my family is the biggest difference in my daily life. This is after I was able to renovate my house with the help of my transfer. Previously, I was residing in a small shelter that was not enough to fully accommodate our family members.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25,030 of my transfer to purchase building materials including 18 iron sheets, nails, and timbers. This was for renovating my house to a more spacious one by constructing an additional room since the one I had earlier was very small. In addition, I spent KES 7,600 to purchase new beddings for my family since I was using sacks as beddings which were not comfortable. I also spent KES 9,000to purchase 3 goats to start livestock rearing a future investment for my family. The remaining amount assisted me in purchasing enough food stocks for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a decent life and self reliance for me. I have a bed but I have been sleeping on it without a mattress for a year now. I am planning to use KES 5,000 to purchase a mattress. I am also planning to expand my single room house to a double room house. The single room I live in is too congested. I will need iron sheets, tree poles and labor. The total cost for the expansion will be approximately KES 15,000. When the new room is complete, I will use it as my bedroom and the old one as my store. I am also planning to use KES 20,000 to buy 5 goats. In our community, goats are a source of wealth. Once the goats increase in number, I will be selling them at a reasonable profit. Also, for the past two years, I have had a dream of becoming a shopkeeper. I am also planning to use KES 20,000 to start a small business of selling foodstuffs to my neighbors. I am sure the profit I will be earning from the shop and the goats will sustain me. All these projects will accomplish my goal of being self reliant. For a longer period, I have been depending on my husband to provide for me. For the remaining money, I will save it for any emergency.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. Charcoal burning is very tedious. Spending the whole day in the forest cutting down trees for charcoal burning totally drains my energy. It is in the evening that I get time to rest and relax.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced in life is lack of money. Lack of money has made me spend the better part of my marriage depending on my husband. I work as a charcoal burner, the money I get is not enough to cater for my domestic needs. This is brought by the unreliability of the charcoal buyers. This forces me to depend on my husband who works as a driver in Mombasa.
