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 ($528 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I have bought a dairy cow and paid for the initiation ceremony for my two sons.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving out unconditional cash transfer to enable us spent on what we want. There is nothing that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spend my second transfer on during the initiation ceremony for my two sons last December, I also rent a piece of land ready for planting potatoes and the rest of the money I used it to buy food for the family.
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 is that I have bought a dairy. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I depend on casual jobs in the village and small scale farming to earn an income to meet all the daily needs of my family. I was not in a position to save some money to buy a cow because of the recurrent needs. At times when there were no casual jobs, we had to go without milk and breakfast and this was so demoralizing. I used to go for casuals jobs from the morning to evening, this was not giving me a chance to bond well with my family. Currently, I have a dairy cow. I have enough milk for my family and I sell the surplus to earn an income to meet other basic needs and also pay part of the school fees for my children. I no longer do much of the casual jobs but rather devote half of my time doing dairy farming at home. I am so happy because GiveDirectly had changed our standard of living.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the money when my neighbors called me to ask me if I had received some money. Immediately when I checked my phone I found a message confirming that I have received 55000 KES from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. I knew I was in a position to buy a dairy cow to cut the cost of buying milk daily.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy a dairy cow. I used to buy milk daily and it was very costly for me since I do not have a continuous source of income. I also bought clothes and food for the family and the rest of the money I used it to clear the school fees arrears for my daughter in secondary school.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a subsistence farmer and what I get is only enough for consumption.This means that I have no surplus to sell inorder to get money.With the transfers from Give Directly I will buy one dairy cow which will cost me approximately Ksh 30,000.The milk I will get from the cow will earn me some money hence boosting my income.I have a child in Secondary school and the money I will be saving from the sale of milk will help me pay her school fees.I also have school fees arrears amounting to Ksh 5,000 which I am supposed to clear.For the second transfer I build a house.I currently have one small house made of grass while I have 8 children.We are too squeezed in it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After my children leave for school I help my mother in law in looking after the cows.When I have no work to do in my farm,I spend the rest of the time around my compound doing cleanliness and fetching water.I enjoy my evenings when I am with my children having supper.Seeing them having food to eat is a great achievement for me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It's almost one year since I lost my husband.He left me with 8 children.Adjusting to this life as a widow has been a big hardship for me.In addition to loneliness, the burden of satisfying the basic needs and paying school fees for my children has been a major challenge.We used to share the burden making it easier for us.For example he dealt with school fees issues while I ensured we had food to eat.
