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 ($428 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the next rainy season, I am planning to plant beans, since our land is a bit bigger, the beans will be enough for the family and we will sell some. Accomplishing this means that I will no longer need to buy beans for the family hence saving and I will also earn income from selling beans and pay some family bills.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is helping the less fortunate in the society like me. With the cash transfers being unconditional, we are able to spend it based on our priorities and sort out the most immediate needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I got married to my husband a couple of years ago, I was hopeful that life would be smooth because he had just graduated with a computer science degree and we all thought that he would get a job soon. Up to date, we have two kids and nothing seems to be working in our favour. We have been relying on selling farm produce that we get to pay school fees and other basic needs. I spend $85 of my second transfer to buy two sacks of maize that lasted for three months, $200 to buy a dairy calf since we didn't have a dairy cow, $80 to buy bed for our two children who didn't have bed and the balance to buy seats and utensils.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($464 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My husband came home in the evening informing us that he had overheard people at the roadside talking about the receipt of their initial transfer. With excitement, I picked up my phone to confirm if I had any Mpesa notifications. I was in the kitchen preparing supper for my family but I left that pending, upon checking my phone I realised that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from Segovia technology. I jump up in ululation and happiness. My husband too was equally overjoyed. I am forever grateful for the support that brought so much happiness into our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am optimistic that I would be able to make good returns with sugarcane farming. It is an investment that would transform our financial status. Secondly, we will no longer worry about the hiking prices of maize in the market because we stocked enough. The milestone that we have achieved in a short period is great and its impact is widely witnessed thus we are forever grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to work as a security officer before but I was forced to take a maternity break from my work. My husband repairs mobile phones for a living and together we are blessed with two children. Upon receiving my initial transfer, my husband and I used KES 15,000 on sugarcane farming and we are hopeful that we would be able to make a profit from it. This had been our dream but we were unable to initiate it due to financial constraints. Additionally, We used KES 16,000 on purchasing enough foodstuffs in the house which includes maize and beans. And lastly, we used KES 16,000 on foodstuffs. We are grateful for the financial support that allowed us to upgrade our lives.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I shall be able to start a poultry keeping business. Our family of four has been depending fully on my husband to provide everything for the family. Our monthly expenses in this family is about KES. 5,000 and he earns a total of KES. 4,000. This basically means that we are living beyond our means and this explains why we have debts of KES. 8,000. It was a concern for me that our debt is rising monthly and it didn't seem like we are about to get out of it. With these transfers therefore I would like to start a poultry keeping business where I shall be selling eggs and poultry meat in the nearby town. I hope that this business shall be able to earn me at least KES. 3,000 monthly and supplement our income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband got a salary increase of KES. 1000 last month at his workplace and this gave me a lot of happiness because I realized that at least his employer realizes that he is a hardworking employee.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our income has remained the same despite the cost of living rising sharply over the past few months. It is so challenging to sustain the needs of the family during this time. It has always been my wish to get extra money to enable me start a new business to supplement our income but am thankful to GiveDirectly for making this dream a reality.
