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 ($433 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After the completion of all that I had planned to accomplish with the second transfer, I now have a new goal to open a hotel business. I am currently looking forward to raising some finances that can enhance the start up.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Giving people money and allowing them to decide on what best they can spend on was the best decision by GiveDirectly in my opinion. Many in our village had been struggling a lot, begging from the neighborhood, and even toiling in other people's farms to earn a living that seemed so unfair to them with the inconsiderable payment they were getting. The cash transfer sets everyone free and at the moment, everyone has a home and lives a better life compared to how it was before. I never saw anything that I would have wished to be done better but I am grateful and feeling lucky to have been part of this project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my family of three children, our beddings were worn out and so I bought some new pairs for $200. When I received my first transfer, I had started building my house but I had not finished, so I used $200 of the second transfer to complete it. I spent the last bit of the transfer buying household foodstuff, an extra piece of furniture, and kitchenwares that were missing in our home. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly and hope to keep improving the few projects we started.
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?
Receiving the money was such a blessing to my family as my husband had planning to pay dowry. I was so happy the moment I received the transfers as I knew our dreams as a family were finally going to be fulfilled.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that my parents received the dowry with so much gratitude and that they nolonger remind me about it. As much as I contributed towards my dowry payment, I have peace of mind that I never thought I would have before the transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used part of the transfers of Kshs 35,000 to pay dowry inform of buying livestock as a form of appreciating my parents for having taken good care of me since my childhood.
Buying water had been so expensive, I used Kshs 10,000 to buy water tank for storage, just incase it rains it does not go into waste.
I have a form two daughter who had been in and out of school due to the accrued debts of school fees,I cleared the balance of Kshs 10,000.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My family has been struggling financially given that we only rely on my husband's casual job in the village. The 'peanuts' he earns in the name of wages can not sustain my family given that he only earns KES1,800 a week. Receiving this money means I will be able to start a kiosk business in the village. The kiosk will cost me an initial capital of KES 50,000. I will be sourcing my commodities from the wholesale located in the neighbouring town and later sell in the village at a profit. The profits from the business added with the weekly wages my husband earns will be enough to sustain my family of four. I will use whatever remains from the GiveDirectly transfers to buy two indigenous dairy cows at a cost of KES 40,000. The milk produced will for domestic consumption and the surplus for sell.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two months ago, we were celebrating Christmas and this brought together my entire extended family and relatives whom I had not been in touch with for many years. The bonding was amazing and this brought happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of income to sustain my family is the biggest challenge I am currently facing. I don't have any reliable source of income to help in meeting my family's basic necessities of life such as food, education and clothing. My husband's casual job is not sustainable enough to sustain my family and we find ourselves in endless debts. This has undermined my reputation in the village.
