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 ($521 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has become better because I now repossessed cattle that I had sold for my children's school fees. I can now have my own dairy cow to ensure that I have a source of income. t is better to keep a cow both for food and income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well because of the way they delivered cash to our homes. We had never seen such effectiveness to deliver money to us instead of coming up with community projects. This gave us a lot of flexibility and solved a lot of our problems.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfer on buying a heifer and contributes to my daughter who was buying a piece of land. I needed to buy a heifer as an investment so that I get to own livestock like before. I used to have many of them but I sold all of them to pay my children school fees five of my children who went to the college level and some to the university. My daughter too needed a parcel of land of her because she is a single parent. It is really nice to have her living on her own piece of land.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I paid school fees for my son at the university. I depend on small scale farming, I sell the produce at the market to earn an income to meet both the basic needs and pay school fees. It was not an easy task because the University fee is very expensive and I was struggling so hard by doing some casual jobs in the village. When I received the money from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew I was in a position to clear the school fees and enable my son to sit for an exam. Currently, I have peace of mind and I have devoted most of my time on my farm unlike before when I could do casual jobs which were so hard for me.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when I received my money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard a message notification on my phone. I immediately inform my spouse who also felt so happy. I knew I was in a position to pay school fees for my son in the university and to buy a water tank.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to pay school fees for my son who is in the university to enable him to sit for an exam, I also bought a water tank for storing clean water for domestic use and the rest of the money I used it to buy a goat, utensils, clothes and food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I sold all my cows when three of my children were in the University.Since then I have not been able to buy another because one is still in college and still requires fees.When I receive the first transfer,I will buy a dairy cow at 300 USD.This will provide me an income through milk.I will also buy household items with the remainder from my first transfer.When I get the second transfer,I intend to buy a water tank to store water in.Currently i fetch from a communal water pan and this water is often unsafe to household uses.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend my mornings working in my small vegetable farm.Farm work is tiresome and most especially at my age.In the afternoon,after I have had lunch,i graze my goats and also take this time to rest.This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is paying fees for my four children in college at the same time.Without any income source,it was a great challenge which saw me sell all our livestock to offset this.It even came to a point where I had to organize a fundraiser but this too did not raise much.This stagnated all the development plans I had at home but am glad that they are close to completing hence they will be able to assist me once they get employment.
