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 ($525 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 transfer has enabled me to buy two more cows to my cowshed that I never anticipated. I could only wait for them to reproduce and increase in number, not by buying since I could not afford them. Having more cows to me means that I will be selling more milk unlike before, thus increase in my income. If it had not been GiveDirectly coming to our village, I would not have acquired these additional cows.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I thank GiveDirectly for coming to our village and fulfilling their promise to us. We were living in poverty but now our lives are totally different as compared to before we received the transfer. Some of us did not have good houses and through the transfer, some built new permanent iron roofed while others managed to buy livestock as their assets. Some of us could not pay school fees for our children forcing them to stay at home for lack of fees. Our children are now comfortable in school through financial support from GiveDirectly. We were living in a deplorable situation but GiveDirectly has changed our lives through the transfer and I thank God for using GiveDirectly to uplift us. I do not see any part that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of the transfer on buying two heifers. I have been rearing livestock for many years and when GiveDirectly came to our village, I already had some cows that I was rearing in my home and selling milk which has been my source of income. My passion has been to have many of the cows in order to increase milk production. I bought the heifers to add to the cowshed and they are my assets too. Also when they mature, I will increase the milk production which I have been selling. I had also constructed a new house using the first transfer but I could not completely pay for the full cost of labor, thus I paid KES 14,000 of the transfer to meet its full expenses. I also spent KES 2550 to pay school fees for my children who are in their primary level of education. I paid for a whole term and I am happy that they will comfortably continue with their studies without any interruptions concerning school fees.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($548 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference is that the transfer has enabled me to meet the full cost of building a semi-permanent house which was difficult for me previously due to unstable financial status. I am now living in my new house which I built using the GiveDirectly funds. This always makes me so happy when I remember where I used to live.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message notification early in the morning as I was on my farm weeding my crops. on checking its content, it was from GiveDirectly informing me that my first transfer had been sent. I was filled with happiness in my heart and peace of mind as I thought of how best I could make a difference in my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I had built my own house since 1979 and for so many years, I desired to renovate it at least the roof only for it was in bad state and leaking always in case of rains. my financial status was not so good and I couldn't be able to meet the cost of repair. When I received my first transfer, then it was a good opportunity for me to renovate my old house, but I decided to buy enough iron sheets and other building materials to construct a new house. I was happy that I am in a position to meet the full cost of construction and setting up a new home for my family to stay.
I am planning to buy a cow on the remaining amount to increase my herd of cattle for this is the activity that boosts my financial status in my area, livestock thrives well for it is semi-arid.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Having lost my eight oxen and five goats to drought two years,I have been reduced to a subsistence farmer yet I used to produce more and sell to other community members.Receiving this money means I will be able to buy two more oxen,ox plough,knapsack sprayer that will help me upscale farming to commercial levels. I will also build a new house because the current one which was built in 1979 is almost falling on us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day starts at six in the morning when I go out in the farm to plough.After one hour,I head back home for breakfast and then set out to graze my cattle up to midday.From midday ,I take a rest until four in the evening. My happiest part of the day is normally in the afternoon when resting from tiresome duties of ploughing the farms and grazing the livestock.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is lack of modern skills to manage livestock and crop farming. Relying on traditional methods of farming led to loss of livestock and crops of almost 1million Kenya shillings through drought and diseases two years ago.Basically,traditional method of farming has reduced me to a subsistence farmer who can not do any development project apart from feeding the family.
