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 ($424 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I recently opened a cafeteria business, thus my goal is to stock it well so that customers may buy nearly all the staple foods in the neighborhood. By doing this, I will draw more clients to my establishment, and the more clients, the higher the profit. Therefore, if I have some money, I want to achieve this.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Everyone in our community is happy and grateful for the great work that GiveDirectly did. We were aware of each step in the project and did not jumble them up. It was a fantastic idea on the part of GiveDirectly to let us use the money whatever we pleased. For all of the villages who lacked reliable sources of income, this project was very helpful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Due to my reliance on charcoal burning for living, it was challenging for me to cover my kids' tuition. I chose to pay for their school expenses even though they hadn't been expelled when I received the second transfer. I took this action because I was aware that if I didn't, I would utilize them for other things and end up stuck. I therefore spent $270 on my two secondary school-aged kids and $28 on my elementary-aged kids. After completing this, I felt relaxed and grateful that there won't be any disruptions for my kids at school. I made a decision to save the balance for the family's maintenance after that.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 AM when I was preparing for the day's hustle when I remembered that I was to reach out to one of my colleagues and pass out information. Upon checking my phone, I noticed that there were two new messages. After checking, I realized that they were from GiveDirectly notifying me that I had received my first cash transfer. I was overwhelmed with joy knowing that finally, I will be able to clear the school fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that currently, I have goats that I am keeping on my homestead. Having them feels like owning the whole world because according to me, they are the most valuable assets that I have been aspiring to buy for so many years. Currently, two have already started reproducing which is an assurance that I will have many of them within a short period. I am planning to be selling and buying more offspring and by so doing, I will be earning a living. I will be using The cash specifically for my kid's tuition fees. Currently, my spouse and I have been relying on the charcoal business which is not profitable. Providing for the right family members has never been easy. I am grateful that soon I will no longer have to strain like before. My children will never miss school and they will get all their basic needs in time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on paying fees of KES 25000 for my four children who are in primary and secondary schools. This had to be a priority because they have been staying home for almost two weeks as a result of the accumulated arrears. I am so happy and thankful that I received the cash in timely able to sort it out. Also, I bought five goats at a total of KES 20000. I have been dreaming of having them for so many years but because of the financial hardships that I have been going through, this was not achievable. I choose to own them because they reproduce twice a year and their offspring mature very fast. With the remaining amount of money, I have been buying foodstuffs for my family and other household items that I have been desiring to own.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Two of my children are in high school. The expense is very high because on top of school fees, my husband and I are required to rent houses because the schools are far from home. They are in their first and second years respectively. This means we have a tough financial journey ahead of us. I believe if we buy some goats, later in the year we shall be able to sell them and raise money to keep our children in school. In the meantime, my husband and I will use half of these transfers to pay school fees and rent as we scout for goats that we can buy affordably.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I know that life gets difficult. I am going through so many troubles, most of them are financial. What I promised myself to do is keep a positive attitude and always find joy in the things I have. I am happy that I enjoy good health and the warmth that comes from having a family that appreciates me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My third born son wants to join a nearby vocational center and pursue a mechanical engineering course. I do not have the resources to send him to school and this makes me very sad. I am sad because he is a bright child and very determined. I wake up every day praying for a miracle but the situation does not seem to change. I hope that one day, he will be able to pursue his dream.
