GiveDirectly: Send money directly to the extreme poor

2nd Payment

Transfer Amount

53150 KES ($524 USD)

over 4 years ago

How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?

Being able to use my transfer to buy some seeds ,fertilizers, hire tractors and practice timely cultivation lead to an increment in my farm production this year which is the difference I have gained from how it would have been had I not received the transfer because we are now feeding well. Currently, we eat three meals a day unlike before when we used to take one or two meals a day hence my family and I are very healthy and happier.Secondly, I started a small shop business which I intend to operate it, alongside the causal jobs that I have been doing to enhance the stability of my household's income even after GiveDirectly.

In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?

GiveDirectly did well by making follow -up from enrollment stage to the point of receiving the money it had promised. Therefore, all the gaps which would led to importers and fraudulent scenarios were mitigated. I do not see anything that they did not do well.

What did you spend your second transfer on?

I spent part of my second transfer on farming. I hired a tractor for land preparation purposes and bought some maize hybrid seeds and cassava. Practicing timely cultivation has led to increased yields that I believe will last us till next harvesting season. Last week, I was able to sell two bags of maize which were surplus @ 8,000 KES . I also paid school fees for my three children who are in primary school and bought three goats with the remaining amount.

Initial Payment

Transfer Amount

55000 KES ($537 USD)

almost 5 years ago

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.

I have managed to buy additional stock of a variety of products for my shop which will enable me to serve my clients effectively for better profits. It could have taken longer to buy that much stock if I only relied on my profits. My passion is to invest more in this business and expand it so that I can have a reliable and additional source of income besides the casual construction jobs that I normally do. The wages from the construction sites are not enough to meet my family needs this is why I invested in this shop. To me, being able to expand this business is the biggest difference in my daily life.

Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?

I received the money early in the morning after reaching my workplace. I was about to start my normal duties when I received a notification message. Upon reading it I realized it was from Give Directly. I could not hold back the joy that filled my heart that day. I remember praying and thanking GiveDirectly because I knew the transfer would transform my life.

What did you spend your first transfer on?

I had started a shop in town which was my other source of income besides doing casual construction jobs. Having an additional source of income to me was my greatest desire since casual jobs were unreliable. When I received my first transfer, I invested KES 20000 by purchasing an adequate stock for my shop. In addition to this, I also bought three goats at KES 9000. I also spent KES 13500 to hire oxen to plough my farm and also pay farmers who helped me weed my maize farm. Apart from that I also paid school fees for my children. I used the remaining amount to buy food and a few household items such as chairs and tables.

Enrolled

5 years ago

What does receiving this money mean to you?

Receiving this money will enable me to improve the living conditions of my family members that is currently very pathetic. I will invest ksh.16,000 in buying one bed and two mattresses since my 6 children are currently sleeping on the cold hard floor on nothing but a box. I will also spend around ksh.4000 to buy 6 plastic seats since presently in my house, we sit on top of 20 litre jerricans . Whenever I have visitors over, it really gets embarrassing because I have nothing decent to offer them to sleep nor sit on. As a future investment, I will spend ksh.40,000 to open a cosmetics shop In Mombasa town where the business is very lucrative

What is the happiest part of your day?

I am happiest in the evening when I get paid for the casual jobs that I do. At this time, I normally feel assured of being able to buy food for my family to go back home with.

What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?

My wife and I separated 14 years ago. She left behind 6 children whom have been under my care ever since.Being a mother and a father to them single handedly has so far been the biggest hardship that I have had to deal with. I have to balance between going to work and also taking care of other household needs like cooking for them,washing the younger ones and at the same time looking for money to take them to school.If only my wife was still around, we would be helping out each other.I would have had the chance to go to Mombasa like my peers in search of better paying jobs but I have not been able to because there is no one to look after my children when I am not around.