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 ($506 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?
To me owning a dairy cow in my homestead gives me the biggest difference in my daily life. This is because it's the only asset that I can lean on in case of financial needs. Within a short period of time, it will reproduce, I will have offsprings which I can sell them just in case of any emergency. I will also enjoy the milk for both household consumption and commercial purposes to earn an income to support other family needs. It it was not for GD coming to my life, I would not have achieved all these.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in so many ways in our lives. One the fact that most of us have been able to take our children to school, unlike before whereby the number of school dropouts was high. Secondly, the majority of us now have decent houses compared to before where we were sleeping under some old huts. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying some livestock such as a dairy cow worthy of KES 13500. I then bought some pieces of iron sheets, building poles, nails, timber and a wooden door with a total of KES 27000, this was purposely for the construction of a new house for my children who have been seeking shelter from my neighbors because my house is not spacious. I then cleared school fees for my son who is in college. The remaining amount of money I am using it in buying some foodstuffs for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($546 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Having goats has made life to be totally different so far. I settled in keeping them because they have numerous benefits. They reproduce faster compared to any other domestic animal. Their pasture is also readily available and the weather in this area is conducive for them too. They also require little supervision's meaning that apart from rearing them, I can also do some other stuff. My plan is to live them reproduce and after some time sell the offsprings when they mature so as to pay some school fees for my son without any difficulties. I will also be getting some manure from them which will help my farm to be more productive. With this plan in place, I am hopeful that my living standard will improve. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I still remember very well, it was around 7 am when my spouse broke the news by saying that GiveDirectly had sent the first transfer. At first, I thought he was kidding, but then I heard some of my neighbors' saying the same. It was one of the days that I will never forget since the whole village broke into a celebration which was unique.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some building materials such as some nails, building poles and timber to construct a new house. My previous house was very small and its condition was not good. My desire was to live in a more spacious one and this is the best gift that I got from GiveDirectly. I then gave my son KES 20000, to pay dowry since I wanted to cement a permanent relationship with my daughter-in-law and their family at large. They have been dating for years but he was not able to marry her until he paid the dowry. I am now happy because there is a new family member in my home officially. It has been one of the dreams that I have been longing for a long time. I also bought goats to keep in my compound. They will be of great help just in case any emergency arises. Besides that, I managed to cleared school fees for my children who are in primary school. The remaining amount was spent on foodstuffs.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have had the desire to own a better house like other people in our homestead and this forced me to engage in odd jobs like charcoal burning in order to achieve my dream. The house I managed to construct by then is now just braving the strong winds and it's partly open. My longest desire has been to use utmost $250 to construct an iron roofed house, a nice and spacious than the one I currently have something that will mean a decent home for my family. My other plan is to ensure food security and this means spending a total cash of $300 on purchasing an oxen and ox plow that will aid in upscaling my farming. This will bring my life to a better version, a transformation that I have long wished.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning, I am required to fetch water from the nearby water pan and thereafter, I proceed to work in my farm. I come back home in the afternoon to prepare my family's first meal. It is at this time when I find myself happiest because seeing my children enjoying the food considering that it is their first meal of the day gives me the feeling of happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a sole breadwinner for the family, a responsibility that I assumed many years ago after the death of my husband is the challenge that I have ever faced. With my status of being a widow, I am forced to engage in odd jobs which are man dominated. Imagine being a charcoal burner and weeding for my neighbours to get a pay! These activities are very tiresome and they usually drain much of my energy yet their income is very minimal. Meeting my family's basic needs is difficult and this has affected my children's education since some dropped out of school while others could not advance their studies after completing their primary education. I am now a happy person after learning that, GiveDirectly has come for my rescue.
