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 ($455 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?
I used to have a secondhand cloth selling business. Unfortunately, due to harsh economic times, the number of customers was been reduced and thereby reducing my daily earnings. This persisted to the point that I started incurring losses. So, I decided to close it down and start working as a hotel accountant. I feel what I'm making is barely enough. To boost my finances, my new goal is to revive the business, thus enabling me to sufficiently provide for my family and put my children through school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly has done very well. Many people in my village have been uplifted through its programs. Some got to buy tanks as water has been a problem in the area and this has served as a water reservoir. Others like myself got to build decent homes. However, I still haven't noted an area where the organization has performed badly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In 2020, after I closed my second-hand clothes selling business, due to the losses I incurred, I started working as an accountant at a hotel. The money that was left in my business, I used to build myself a house which I never finished. So, when I got the funds from give directly, I opted to continue with the construction of my house, and whatever amount remained I utilized in buying a cow at KES 33,000 and a goat at KES 4500.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5pm while attending to the hotel's customers at my cashier desk when I heard my phone vibrating. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES55000 from GiveDirectly. I was very excited and this gave me the energy to continue serving customers till 9pm our time for close of business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is completion of my stalled house within the shortest time possible.Through the transfers, I have also managed to a buy a heifer which I couldn't afford before and used to rely on my parent's cows for milk. In terms of food, GiveDirectly has enabled me to buy food in bulk which can sustain my family for the next one month.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES35000 on completion of a four roomed house which I had started building in 2020 November but had stalled in February 2021 due to shortage of funds. I spent KES16000 on a heifer because it will soon give birth and therefore will be a long term investment for my family. The rest was spent on food and clothing.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will bring a great impact in my family. I am now a family man and currently I work as a casual in Bomet county and earn an average of KES.10,000 per month. After paying the expenses like food and rental services fee, I only remain with KES.5000. This amount is not enough to meet other basic needs at home. Today i am so enthusiastic about this transfers from Givedirectly. I therefore intend to be residing from home and this means I will buy a brand new motorcyle to ease my transport cost at KES.104,000.This means I will be saving my whole salary and continue to do other developments in my home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
n the month of September, I planted cabbages and we were able to get good yields.After selling this I got a profit of KES.28,000. This amount was able to assist me in building a new house which has been a major challenge to me. I was happy for this as it relieved my burden.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
One of challenge that I currently face is lack of finance. Being a father in my house and whereby all the responsibilities has to be on my shoulder. Considering what I earn from the casual is not enough to cater for the basic needs of my family. The average amount of KES. 5000 in a month for me is not enough. I need to do other developments in my home but this has been a tall order to me.
