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
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time almost 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 started a business of a retail shop. This business earns me an profits daily. I used to do casual jobs in the village and sometimes to get this jobs is so hard. The small amount of money that I used to get through this casual were so small and could not meet all the basic needs of the family including paying school fees for my children. Currently I have a business and I am in a position to buy seeds and fertilizer to use on my farm, I am also in a position to pay school fees for my children and they are no longer being sent home to collect the school fees like before. Their performance improved so well compared to previous terms. My children are so happy because they get all the basic needs.I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our lives to be better.
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 start businesses. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly to start a business of a retail shop. This earns me profits which I used to meet other basic household needs. I also paid school fees for my children in various schools and this enabled them to study well without being disturbed. Finally I bought a goat. This is an investment. I had always wished to own one. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had gone to milk and left my phone on my bed and on coming back to check my phone, I saw an MPESA message from GiveDirectly. I was very happy that I started jumping around with happiness. I could not keep calm. I called my brother in law who has a motorbike to come pick me so that I could go and cash out the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have always wanted to own a television in my house from the time I got electricity in my house. I am now happy that I can sit down and enjoy family time watching television with my children. My sons are also happy that they are no longer sleeping in a canteen but in their own house. Thank you so much GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I built a house for my sons who for a long time have been sleeping in a canteen that I sell from during the day. I also bought a goat that will soon give birth and we will get milk from it. I also bought a television and 3 bags of maize and 25kilograms of rice.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my dream of opening a shop will materialize. We spent some funds that we acquired from the sale of our farm products on building a semi-permanent shop. Unfortunately, we could not afford to purchase stock, hence, it has never been operational. I look forward to a brighter future where I will be realizing substantial profits by running a shop because there is no nearby shop. Subsequently, we shall lead a better life as a family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when resting after successfully completing the day's farming tasks. This helps restore my energy and makes me feel like a hardworking and responsible parent.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When I was diagnosed with low blood pressure in the year 2029, I felt that my life was becoming more challenging since I normally handle manual farming practices that depend require a strong, healthy and energetic body. From then on, I have drastically reduced the amount of work that I do, meaning that gains from my farming have also declined. Hence, suffering from low blood pressure serves as the biggest hardship I have faced in life.
