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 ($527 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has greatly improved as I have avoided conflicts with my neighbors emanating from my chicken destroying their crops. I had lost some crops too to these birds as they fed on my young maize crops, eating ll the leaves beyond recovery. I am so glad that I have managed to contain them in a closed compound using a wire mesh fence. The project gives me about KES 1200 per week. From this, I am able to feed them and also meet my daily needs and make savings in a merry go round group.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I saw that GD saved a lot of people from different kinds of misery ranging from homelessness to lack of economic activities. When the money came, people established income-generating activities such as dairy farming. Others build houses because they really needed them.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on building a kitchen house. I then bought a big wire mesh to fence my compound. I needed to do the fencing because I have a poultry project that I am currently running. I have about 80 chickens. If left to stray into other people's farms, it becomes a disaster when they feed on crops and cause destruction. I am sure I needed this fencing. I also bought poultry feeds for birds and finally bought some school supplies for the children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($535 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 an extension room for visitors and renovate the entire house to look decent. We used to live in a small house before and whenever I had visitors it was a challenge because the house could not host all of them. Most of the occasions we could sit outside the house to do family meetings and this was so embarrassing. The worse moment is during the rainy seasons. My house was not looking so decent because when I built it, I did not have the money to buy painting materials to make my house decent. Currently, I have a decent house and a spacious extension room for my visitors. Nowadays I do not shy away to welcome visitors to my house because I have a decent room to host them. We no longer do the family meeting outside the house like before. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my first transfer I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard a message notification tone from my phone. When I reached out to check it was a confirmation message that I have received 55000KES from GiveDirectly I felt so happy. I knew I would be in a position to renovate my house to look so decent and build an extension room for visitors.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to renovate my house to look very decent, I also built an extension room for visitors. I also bought clothes, food and the rest of the money I used it to start a poultry keeping with few hens.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that i will be able to venture into poultry keeping since its a project i have been yearning to start up but lack of capital has made it impossible. I will therefore buy materials to build a poultry house, buy chicks and ensure i buy materials to fence my compound to ensure my poultry never goes to people's farms to destroy crops. The remaining part of my transfer will ensure i complete constructing my house which is half way built.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually spend my mornings in my farm weeding, planting and transplanting my crops as well as harvesting some which are ready for sale. I then spend my afternoon doing household chores such as cleaning the house and washing clothes. Evening is the happiest part of my day since its the time i rest after a long tiresome day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship i have faced in my life is poor harvests due to unsustainable rainfall in this area. This has forced us to spend the little money we earn from dairy farming in buying food stuff thus less is left for savings hence investing in income generating activities has proven hard in my family