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 ($460 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?
I am planning to reduce milk expenses in the next three months. This is because the dairy cow which I bought using GiveDirectly transfers is due.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well because it has enabled us to access the necessities that I couldn't. Now I have built a modern house and bought a dairy cow which I couldn't otherwise afford.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the first transfers I build an 18 Iron roofed timber-framed house but was not complete. Therefore when I received my second transfer I spent KES 15,000 on the completion of the floor of my house which was still pending.
Secondly, I spent KES 6400 on two maize bags. As we speak I have only a bag left which will sustain us till the end month. Earlier to get food we used to rely on my husband who has been working as a welder for the past ten years.
Thirdly, I spent KES 3,000 on the purchase of my kid's school uniforms. This is because their uniforms were tattered and worn out.
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?
I barely heard a message alert that evening when I was already in bed but could not check since I was not expecting it to be carrying such a piece of great news. In the morning when I woke up around 7:00 am, the first thing I did was to pick up the phone, and on reading through the messages, I realized that the first two were from GiveDirectly - I had received the first transfer. I had to show both my spouse and children who were filled with joy. We thanked God and made an instant arrangement to collect the money right from the shopping center before initiating all the plans we had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the purchase of a heifer. This is a great step to a better future in my household as I have seen the importance of having a milk-producing cow on the farm. Even though it has not started producing milk at the moment, I am hopeful and looking forward to a profitable future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my family of seven - two sons, three daughters, and the two of us - it has been so hard squeezing ourselves in a single house that was not big enough. My sons who are now grown needed a separate house while the girls needed a room of their own too since they had been sleeping in the sitting room. I had to spend KES 33000 on the construction of an extended room on the main house and a separate house for my two sons. I am glad that they can now spend their nights comfortably in their rooms. I also purchased a heifer to add to the lactating dairy cow that I already had. Buying a heifer was a long term plan for my household to ensure that we get enough supply of milk in the future that will, in turn, help us in raising part of the school fees for our children, I spent the remaining KES 3200 on buying a sack of dry maize grains that we are still using as a foodstuff in the household.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a better living standard in our family. We depend on my spouse's small business of welding. This work is seasonal and also very competitive because many perform the same. He earn around KES 2,000 per week when the business is good. This is now suppose to feed my family of 7 and pay school fees for my four children in private primary school. We had save before and purchase a dairy cow that we have now. We have been dreaming of adding another but due to school fees and high cost of living we have not. With this transfers we are planing to use KES 20,000 to add another dairy cow. This will assist us when another stop lactating the another provides milk. The rest of the amount we shall use to build a house for our grow up sons so as they can not be seeking shelter from my neighbours.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two weeks ago my only dairy cow calves. This brought me joy because I will no longer spend money in purchasing milk. I used to spend around KES 160 a day in purchasing milk from a nearby milk vendor. Also, my children will get good nutrition since we will have enough for consumption.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge we are facing currently is financial constraints. My spouse is a welder and when business is good he earns KES 2,000 per week. This amount is not enough to raise my family 7 and pay school fees to my 4 children in private primary school. It has cost us to forgo other family neccessities like furnishing my house.
