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 ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 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 how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have bought three goats. This is the best investment on our area since we have a big land for grassing. I have always wished to start this project of rearing goats but since I didn't had capital it was not easy. I do small scale farming and the harvest that we get is only for consumption and the extra we sell it to buy other basic household items. I didn't had money to start this project. My father owns big farm, I found it wise to invest on this farm. One of the things that made me rear goats is that, it multiply faster. They give birth twice per year. I will sell them at some point to buy a daily cow. When there is an emergency it's easy to sell them and sort it out without much struggle. I am so grateful for the support because my wish has been fulfilled.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend the money I received from GiveDirectly to buy a Heifer. My family will have enough milk when it reproduce.. I also bought three goats. I had also bought goats with the first transfer and I found it wise to add more. It is a investment since it reproduces faster and incase of emergency I will sell. Finally I bought food and clothes for my children. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled us own assets which it could have taken some time to get it.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around six twenty in the morning while still asleep when I heard the message tone ring. I was very excited when I checked the SMS and confirmed it was the GiveDirectly tranfsers I had been eargerly waiting for. I immediately relayed the good news to my wife and we danced for joy. Coincidentally, that very day was a market day in our place so we headed straight to the market centre, withdrew the money from one of the MoMo agents and started buying shopping as we had agreed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is purchase of three dorper sheep breeds which I desired to buy for the past two years but couldn't afford. This is because they have a high market value, can give birth twice a year, requires less attention and grow fast. Once they multiply, I intend to sell in exchange for a high quality dairy cow. I am also happy because my kids are well fed and decently dressed.Before, from my casual labor I wouldn't provide for my family at times and we would sleep hungry.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 110USD of my transfer on three dorper sheep breed because it requires less attention and multiply fast as compared to a dairy cow. I spent 80 USD on two maize sacks as food for my family because initially I used to rely on casual labor therefore eating from hand to mouth. I also spent 130USD on latest clothing fashion for my family because my kid's clothes were tattered and old. 11USD was spent on maize seeds and I have saved the rest for land ploughing.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a family of five with no dairy cattle to supplement dairy products to them. Therefore, receiving this money means that I will be able to buy one dairy cattle that goes for 300USD to provide milk to my family and as a result put to an end regular purchase of milk. I will also use 100USD to build a house for my two grown up male boys to sleep and study. In this case, they will have their privacy and ours preserved. For the remainder of the transfer, I intend to use it to start poultry farming as an employment opportunity. I will built a poultry unit, buy fifty chicken and their feeds. This will not only render me as self employed but also provide me with a regular flow of income through the sale of poultry products.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend most of my daytime looking for casual jobs on people's farms or nearby shopping center. My happiest part of the day is in the morning when I get work as this will mean that I will be paid later in the evening and so my family will have something to take for supper.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Every morning as I wake up, I usually pray to God to provide me with a casual job so that I can cater for the basic needs of my family for that day. I mostly work from hand to mouth cycle meaning if I do not get work, there is a very high chance my family could sleep on an empty stomach. The fear of not getting a job on a particular day is always the biggest hardship I have ever experienced.
