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 ($465 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?
After utilizing the second transfer as per my plans, I got a thought that developed into a goal and I am looking forward to seeing it come to pass. The goal is to become a livestock farmer. I want to invest more in livestock both goats and cows because livestock usually has greater value if it comes you take good care of them and they can be converted to money if the need arises.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is a life-changing organization. Initially, my living condition was sorrowful, I used to sleep on boxes and sacks but through the first transfer that I got from GiveDirectly I was able to buy a bed and a mattress and I am now sleeping well and comfortably. It also enabled me to pay school fees for my children something that was challenging me on daily basis and my children were ever at home due to school fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving and withdrawing the second transfer, I first paid KES 33000.00 school fees for my four children. Two are in secondary while the other two are in primary school. I also bought four goats for KES 15000.00. These goats will serve as security for my children's education, if I find myself unable to provide fees for them I will sell the goats to cover their school fees. After doing the two main agendas as I planned, I used the remaining amount in buying some food for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While in the field, I receive a message at around 8.30am. Being unable to read, I did not bother to know what it was all about. When it reached noon, I decided to go home because I was tired. On reaching home, I heard people talking about the GiveDirectly. My helper came for my phone curiously to know whether I had also received or luck was not in my side. I ululated in happiness after knowing that I wasn’t left behind in those transfers that were sent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially I was not sleeping well at all due to the state of my bed which was covered with a torn mat. Currently I am sleeping well on a nice and comfortable bed. The other difference is the water hardship that we had but as at now I have a water tank for storing water. The water tank helps me in to access water with ease.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For a long time I had been sleeping on a small traditional bed which wasn’t comfortable at all. Hence on the very day of withdrawal, I bought a bed and a mattress for KES 9600.00. Thereafter I bought a water tank for KES 1300.00 and also paid KES 12700.00 school fees for my children. Looking at how dry our areas id I decided to keep the remaining amount of money for the family upkeep.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a second wife in a polygamous family. I gave birth to eight children. Out of the eight, five are currently in school. All of them depend on me to meet their basic needs and pay their school fees. Raising these children has not been easy. This is because, I depend on burning charcoal to get money for food and other basic needs. However, due to the prolonged drought facing in our village that has made farming impossible, many people engage in charcoal burning which has made it difficult to get trees for charcoal burning because all trees have been cut down. This business earns me less than 3000 KES a month which is not enough to cater the basic needs of my family. This has made my children to be on and off school due to fee arrears. Upon receiving this money, I will be able to clear school fees for my child in college and the other four in primary school. I will then use the remaining amount to buy goats that I will keep and sell when they multiply as an investment for my children education in future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Three weeks ago, my family received relief food from politicians who are vying for political seats next year in the general elections. So we divided ourselves into four and every child got a share which lasted for a whole week. This made me happy as my children had something to eat. This boosted my budget for food as I was able to save some money from my charcoal burning business for school fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of water in the village is the main challenge that I am facing. Water is sometimes available but it is very expensive. One drum of 20 litres of water is 70 KES. This is very expensive for me and my family because the charcoal burning business earns me very little amount of money. This makes us go without food for a day or two due to the water shortage. When I receive the cash transfers, I will use part of it to buy a 5000 litres water tank that I will use to store water.
