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 ($492 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I was able to lease and plant 3 acres of land for farming. Due to this, I am glad that my family will have enough food to last us till the next harvesting season this year. Also, through the sale of the proceeds, I will be able to achieve my dream of opening a hardware shop.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out financial aid to people and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I spent approximately KES 23000 to build a more spacious kitchen for my family. I settled on this so that my children would also have a place to sleep as they have come to an age where we cannot share the same room with them. Also, I spent KES 37000 on farming after topping up some amount. I rented 3 acres of land at our neighboring county, hired a tractor for land preparation purposes and bought some fertilizers and quality seeds. Farming in my community for the last 7 years has been a worst nightmare. Maize plantation are always invested by warms hence making one ran at a loss and due to this, we are forced to buy maize flour all year round.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the Mpesa notification message at around six fourty three in the morning while I and my wife were still in bed. I was very excited and my wife was more overwhelmed with joy than me. We immediately woke up, prepared breakfast, took bath and went to withdraw together.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Buying a heifer is the biggest difference in my daily life. As a motorcycle mechanic with my meagre salary I couldn't afford it but now I am happier than before because the heifer will be a source of milk and income for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 250 Dollars on a dairy cow because it will be a source of income for payment of school fees. 72 Dollars on additional 20 chicken layers and will additional source of income. I spent 45 Dollars of my kid's clothing and shoes because they had worn out clothes and lacked gumboots. I spent 600 dollars of my transfer on a sack of maize, and ten kilograms of rice as food for my family. I spent 210 litres water drum for water drum because water scarcity is prevalent in our place. 80 dollars I spent on repayment of debts.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I a motorcycle mechanic working outside someone's spares shop. Receiving this money means that I will be able to open up my own spares shop as I continue with my mechanic work. By doing this, I will be able to get proceeds from my work as a mechanic and also from the sales of the spare parts.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a motorcycle mechanic and I usually spend most of my time in a nearby center repairing the motorbikes. My happiest part of the day normally falls in the evening when I get many motorbikes to repair which translates to more cash. This always gives me the opportunity to cater for the basic needs of my family and also save part of it in our local savings group.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Provision of quality education to my kids has been one of my priorities in life. I managed to finish primary level only and promised myself that all of my kids would go further than that but not below tertiary level. Currently all four of them are in private school and the school fees are quite high. Getting these school fees with no permanent job to rely on has always been the biggest hardship I have ever experienced.
