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 ($436 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?
In the next one year, I hope to start a small business of shop keeping. This goal may take a little longer for me to actualize it since I have to keep paying school fees for my children. Two of them who are in their tertiary level of education are completing theory studies soon. Once one of them is done, then I will be able to use money that would have been channelled to pay her school fees in other meaningful investments like this. The dairy cow that I bought with the first transfer will also help me realize this since it will soon have its first calf.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does very well by giving the support in cash form. Looking at what I have done with the cash that I received from the first and second transfers gives me pure joy in my heart. I never imagined that I would own a dairy cow anytime soon having sold all the livestock that I had before to pay school fees for my children. Giving the money without any conditions was another score by GiveDirectly. It empowered us enough to be able to make informed decisions on what we needed to do with the money. I am so grateful to have been part of the beneficiaries of this program that has completely changed my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used part of the transfer to pay school fee for my daughter who has huge school fees arears by the time I received the second transfer. I used $250 to pay this fee and used another $100 to buy maize for consumption within my family. The remaining amount of money was used to buy clothes and other basic household needs for my family. I am a widow and a mother of seven children. Five of my children are in secondary and tertiary level of education. Getting this money has been a major boost in my life. Being a widowed mother, and having to provide for my children singlehandedly has been the most challenging thing fir me. I normally rely on subsistence farming to raise money that helps us meet our needs. Farming has lately been dealt a blow by the harsh weather conditions-drought that has resulted in very little or no production at all. The dairy cow that I bought with the first transfer will be calving soon and once it calves, then it will ease the burden that I have of having to provide for my family. I am just so grateful for the support that I received from GiveDirectly. It has given me hopes of living a better life in the coming days.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I came back from milking the cows I got a message from my phone. The message was confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because that was the highest amount I have ever received. I knew I would be able to fulfill my dream. My children felt so happy too and we all celebrated with lots of joy. One of my main concerns was purchasing a dairy cow. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards and made us live a better life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Owning a dairy cow is the biggest difference in my daily life. I used to buy milk daily and this was so costly for me since I do not have a continuous source of income. At some point, my neighbor gave me one of his cows with a condition that he will come for it anytime. I was so happy because at that moment I could get enough milk for the family. When I received the transfer from GiveDirectly my neighbor asked me if I can purchase the cow. This was the best news and I did not hesitate but rather pay the money. Currently, I own the dairy cow fully and I no longer get worried that it might be taken back. My children get enough milk and they are so happy as well. I have peace of mind and I have hope that things will be great. I have devoted much of my time to this project and I will improve it and make it my main source of income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend KES 35,000 on purchasing a dairy cow. Purchasing milk daily was so costly for me and I had requested my neighbor to give me one of his dairy cows. He accepted to sell it to me. I am so grateful because I own the caw. I no longer get worried like before. I spend KES 6,000 on food and household items that we were lacking. For the rest of the money, I did some shopping for my daughter who was joining form one. I am so grateful because all this happened without much struggle. GiveDirectly has given us reason to live a better life.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means an extra income to my household. I have six children all in school. Paying their school fee has been the greatest challenge, having forced me to sell most of my assets including livestock. I borrowed a cow from a relative that has been helping me in feeding my family. I had plans of buying my own but I have not been able to buy one due to lack of finances. I plan to use KES 35,000 to purchase one dairy cow that will be giving me milk to feed my children and the surplus I will sell to neighbors and earn an income. For the rest of the amount, I will purchase food as this is also a challenge.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My firstborn son completed school three months which made me very happy as a parent. My husband passed away when all my children were still in school. I was so worried that I was not going to be able to take them through school. But three months ago, after so many financial challenges, he made it , now he is a graduate. I could not be more happier.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The main challenge is financial constraints. It is a challenge raising my six children singlehandedly, especially paying their school fees and affording food. Depending on subsistence farming as a source of income is unsustainable due to poor rainfall.
