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 ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 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 a solar and a battery for lighting up the house. I used to have a kerosene lamp for lighting. This was so costly because I had had to buy kerosene daily. When I didn't had money it was so hectic because there was no lighting at all, my children could not do their assignment. This was so demoralizing I felt I was not fulfilling responsibilities. When I received the second transfer I decided to buy a Sola and a battery. Currently I have lightning at home for cooking during late hours. My children also do their homework and assignments on time. This has enabled them to improve in their performance. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
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 solar panels. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 19000 of the second transfer on purchasing a Solar and a battery for lighting up the house. I used to have a kerosene lamp for lighting. This is so costly because I have to purchase kerosene daily. I also purchased a heifer at a cost of KES 21,000. This will enable me to get enough milk for my family and cut the daily cost of buying milk. I paid KES 2,000 arreas for my children who are in secondary school. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My heart was was filled with joy the moment I realized that GiveDirectly had sent me the promised money. I knew that I would be able to achieve my goals in life using this life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now a happy parent. This is because I now know that very soon, I will be assured of my children's safety. This is because I am almost through with building a house for them. My children are also very eager to start sleeping at home as they will be having enough time to study in the evening.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent around KES 30000 to build a better kitchen for my family and a small house for my children. We settled on building a house for our children as a family for security purposes. This is because they're always moving from one house to another seeking seeking for a place to sleep at night. Also, building a kitchen for my family was a priority since the one we had was old and in a bad state. From the remaining amount, I spent KES 18000 to purchase a table, chair and new beddings for my family. Lastly, I bought two sacks of maize to last my family for some time as buying them in small quantities is always costly.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my dream project of doing poultry farming shall begin. I will utilize some of the funds on purchasing all the necessary materials and building a poultry house. Some of the money will also be used on buying at least 50 birds. I have yearned to venture into this agribusiness because it takes a short time for the poultry to mature, hence we shall benefit from the project soon. Also, we have a ready market for mature birds and eggs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day is usually busy as I could be working on my farm or handling some casual jobs in my neighborhood. Since my family depends mainly on my efforts to gain food and other necessities, the happiest part of my way is in the evening when I have successfully handled my tasks. This would mean that we shall have some funds, farm produce, or other gains that would sustain us.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a subsistence farmer, educating my children has been the toughest challenge I have faced. Since produce from our farm is just enough to sustain us without any surpluses for sale, I was forced to sell almost all the cattle I had to raise school fees for my children. So far, two of our children have completed their basic education by completing Grade 12. Unfortunately, the struggle for raising school fees has prevented us from raising the needed capital for venturing into the poultry farming business.
