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 ($468 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My additional goal is to offset all my debts. These include paying off all my children's school fees arrears. Having debts have been stressful to me thus making me not to be at peace. Basically, I have been having an accumulated debts of up to KES 10,000, which I had not been able to settle due to unreliable source of income. I had not fully paid that debt because initially I had a goal of buying a new motorcycle for business. I am glad that from this investment, I have been able to get KES 400 per day. Thanks to GiveDirectly for its kind support.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does so well in alleviating poverty by giving direct cash transfer to its recipients. Through the transfers, many recipients from my community have witnessed an improvement in their living standards. They no longer struggle as they used to struggle to in order to buy food and clothes for their household members. However, based on my observation, there is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The second transfer from GiveDirectly was very helpful to me in many ways. First and foremost, I spent KES 20,000 to buy household items such as new seats and utensils. These items have greatly improved the face of my house, and I always feel comfortable to be within my house unlike before when being in the house was too boring. In addition, I spent KES 5,000 on buying food items for my family since we did not have some food items in the house. Lastly, KES 27,000 helped me in settling insurance issue for my newly acquired motorcycle.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Receiving money that you haven’t received in your life can make one change their program for the day. While washing utensils at home in one of the fine morning at around 10am, I received a message in my phone and upon checking it was a transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly. I jumped up in ululation due to the joy that filled my heart, hence didn’t finalize the rinsing of the utensils.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My body is now gaining strength since the day I bought some stock of food for the family. I am resting from the tiresome job of cutting trees and making charcoals which was on daily basis. One of the healthy tips for a human being is having enough rest, something I was lacking before GiveDirectly came.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since my husband and I have been relying on making and selling charcoal, we decided to venture into another business that will boost our living condition. We bought a second-hand tuktuk for KES 40000.00. This will be used for light transport thus earn us a living. I also took KES 3000.00 and paid school fees for my primary school children, paid a debt of KES 3000.00 which I borrowed from a friend and also bought some food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a source of income for me since I plan to buy a motorcycle which will be operating a taxi business. I have for so long fully depended on my spouse but with this money I can support him by having a source of income. I plan to buy the motorcycle on credit and for the deposit, I will use KES 40,000 from the transfers. With this, my estimated profit for the day is KES 500.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because I take time to relax after a busy day working in the hot sun. My activities involve fetching firewood which I walk for long to. This is usually very tiresome
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I dropped out of school with only one a half years to complete my secondary education. This was due to lack of school fees. I was born and raised in a family of seven with my parents depending on subsistence farming. My dream was to complete my secondary education and take up a business course. Unfortunately, I did not, and I am now married, jobless and depending on my spouse as the sole bread winner. I am married as the second wife and we all depend on my spouse who is a motorcycle taxi operator to support the two of us together with six of our children. Financial constraints has therefore been my biggest hardship all along.
