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 ($518 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I decided to build a house for my son who has already grown up. He is in his teenage and this requires me to construct a house for him to allow him some privacy. I needed to do this but for a long time, I had been planning to do it without any success. I also have livestock, sheep that multiply quickly. I used to desire this knowing that I will be having a huge financial need as my son Joins a secondary school. I have settled all that used to worry me and am happier now that if I had not received the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion., GiveDireclty did really well in enlightening us. Most of my village members would have been taken advantage of pf by gullible business people. The advice form staff that we should approach markets with caution and exercising due diligence. This resulted in good buying decisions that have improved our economy.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfer on paying school fees for my children. I then bought 5 sheep to rear in the compound. I knew hat they multiply quickly. I bought them so that I can use the money from selling the offerings to pay school fees for my children. I then bought timber for constructing another house .
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built a better and spacious house for my children. I used to live in a small house that could not house us comfortably. I depend on casual jobs in the village to earn an income. Paying school fees was my first priority and I had no extra shilling to build a house for them. Living in one house with grown-up children is a taboo in our culture. My children were not free and they had no privacy. Most of the time the spent there night at the small kitchen house that I had built near the main house. When I received the money I built a better house for them and now they are living happily. I am so much grateful because I did not know this could happen so soon.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment when I received my money I felt so happy and grateful. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard a message notification on my phone. When I checked it I could not believe my eyes because I have never received such amount of money before. I knew from that point that I will be in a position to build a house for my children.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to built a better and spacious house for my children. We used to live in a small house with my children and it could not host us comfortably. I also bought school items for my children in boarding school and the rest of the money I used it to buy food and other basic needs for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always been planning to start rearing sheep but due to lack of money that has not been possible.With this money I will start by buying 6 sheep which will cost me Ksh.30,000(300USD).Sheep rearing will be a good venture for me because they multiply very fast.This will help me a lot in paying school fees as well as satisfying other needs.I also have a plan of building a house for my son.He is 13 years old now and as required by our culture,he should start sleeping in a separate house.The house will cost me approximately Ksh 20,000(200 USD).Finally I will plough 1 acre of my land so as to plant animal feeds to help boost milk production.Dairy farming is my main source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a farmer and therefore I am usually busy most of the time of the day looking after the cows and working in my farm.My happiest moment is in the afternoon because it is the time that I relax for 2 hours before embarking on my work.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It has been tough trying to get a stable source of income.Initially ,crop farming was our main source of income but it failed us terribly.This is due to low yield caused by crop diseases and unpredictable weather patterns.At one time we borrowed a loan from a financial institution so that we could start a business.I started buying and selling milk while my spouse sold cereals.Due to low production in this area,the businesses collapsed.We had to sell the cows we had to offset the loan.This was a major set back.We currently depend on dairy farming but it also not consistent due to the changing climate.
