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 ($463 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Right now, my goal is to rear the goats that I bought and make sure that the herd grows as it will be my main source of income. I intent to sell some of the goats in few years to come to enable me pay school fees for my children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion what GiveDirectly does well is restoring the dignity of the poor by supporting through unconditional cash transfers. The impact in my village is evident and I applaud you for that.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Imagine going to the forest three months after giving birth to cut down trees and burn charcoal to provide for my family! That has been my norm for the eight kids that I have given birth to. I have been doing this to provide for my children because as much as my husband hustles to provide for us, the little income that he earns cannot meet our family needs and I ended up sleeping hungry while breastfeeding and I used to feel sad seeing my young kids sleep hungry. A couple of months ago, my husband started a business of buying and selling charcoal at a profit and it was not doing well since he has a lot of responsibilities and ended up using a higher percentage of the profit to pay bills. I spend 32000 KES to buy 8 goats, 19200 to add 24 sacks of charcoal to my husband's business and spend the balance to buy food. I now have investment which I can count on whenever my husband lacks.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9am when I was about to go to sleep when my phone message tone rung. My helper was just a stone throw distance thus I approached and gave him the message to read and interpret for me. My heart melted with the information I received from the helper. How amazing sleeping knowing that you have a huge amount of money in your account just abruptly. That night, I hardly slept due to the happiness that filled my heart. I was just thanking God for touching and bringing this organization to us the remote people.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially, getting daily food for the family was a big challenge since our business was not running well after the breakdown of the motorbike. After repairing it, things have started working well and I am grateful for this organization for restoring my business. As at now I can say GiveDirectly gave me an income generating activity which can at least sustain my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a family we have a charcoal business where we make and supply them. My husband is responsible in the supplying section but for a while now thing were not moving well after the motorbike that he was using broke down. When we received the money we repaired the motorbike at a cost of KES 7800.00 so that the business can run well. Thereafter, I bought 8 goats for KES 32000.00 and paid KES 7000.00 school fees for my 7 primary school children and bought some food stuff with the remaining amount.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
This money will bring dignity to my family. I have a family of 8 children. Lowliness is what defines our social status. My children are always on torn clothes. They even lack school uniform. They go to school with the torn clothes. When it comes to where we sleep, the state is worse. The beds do not have mattresses. We only sleep on the bare traditional beds. I have not been able to buy beds and clothes for my children because I do not get enough income. I work as a charcoal burner. I roughly make 5,000 KES per month. This amount only helps me in buying food for the family, leaving all the other needs unattended. I intend to use 45,000 KES to buy 3 beds, 3 mattresses, clothes and school uniform for my children. This will atleast improve our social status.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband and I work as charcoal burners. My husband sells the charcoal in Mariakani. He used to carry the sacks with a bicycle. Cycling for more than 30 km was very tedious for him. Six months ago, we acquired a motorcycle that we are still paying on higher purchase basis. This gave me so much joy because transporting the charcoal has been very simple lately.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the challenge I am currently facing. I used to do farming for food production but due to the lack of rains, I am fully working as a charcoal burner. Charcoal burning earns me approximately 5,000 KES per month. With a family of 8 children, this amount is insufficient to buy food that can last my family for a whole month. From time to time, my children skip school due to lack of food. We even go to bed hungry on some days.
