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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been if I never received the transfers in that I have purchased a dairy cow. I used to buy milk daily which is so expensive for me. I do not have a continuous source of income, I depend on small scale farming to earn an income through the sales of eggs and milk. I had no other source to enable me buy the dairy cow. I am so grateful and thankful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled me to own a dairy cow. I no longer buy milk again. The amount which I could have used to buy milk I saved to pay the school fees for my children. I no longer get stress up on where to buy milk because at some point it was not easy to get. GiveDirectly has changed our living standard to be much better than before.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing two dairy cows and a goat. I used to buy milk daily which was so expensive. I also used some amount to ploughed my farm and planted maize and beens.The rest of the money I used it on medication I was not feeling well. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember it was around lunchtime while livestock keeping when I heard my phone ring. Immediateky, I handed my phone to my kid who confirmed that I had received GD transfers. I was overwhelmed with joy to the extent of abandoning the cows to my kids. Immediately, accompanied by my helper we went for the money from the nearest MoMo agent because I was very cautious of swappers who are prevalent in our area.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is owning a dairy cow which I had desired for the past 10 years but couldn't afford. The ones I had initially, were sold off for school fees.The dairy cow once it has given birth will be a source of income for my family especially in acquisition of farm inputs. Right now, I am happy because my family is well fed unlike before when I would rely on my kid's for food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 35000 on a heifer as an addition to the ones I had. I also spent KES 3050 on a bag of maize because my maize stock was depleted. I also spent KES 500 on a maize seeds in order to avert hunger in the next season. I also added KES 1000 to my sour milk business because it's my main income source. I also spent KES 1000 on other food and household items. I have also saved the rest for furniture because I normally borrow from the neighborhood whenever I have guests.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money mean a stable business to me and my family. Since I am getting old, I hardly do any manual work and/ or heavy work yet I feel I should have a source of income. I have been aspiring to own a dairy cow to help fend my family. My intention is to buy a cow which costs approximately Ksh 40,000 and my projection is to milk 7 litres of milk a day. Out of this, I will use 2 litres for home consumption and sell 5 litres at Ksh 35 per litre. This will bring a sigh of relief to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. I spend most of my morning hours working in my 0.5 acre of land which I have grown maize and kales. I then spend my afternoon doing household chores. Having time to relax and prepare supper is the joy of my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since the demise of my husband 3 years ago, my life has never been the same again. He used to be the sole provider of the household and putting food on the table now is an uphill task. This is due to the fact that we experience long periods of drought out and harvesting sufficient crop for domestic use is hard to come by. My husband was a business (buying and selling cows) which I am unable to venture into. We have been surviving on the little we get from my 0.5 acre of land (getting 5 bags) which I normally grow maize, which is hardly enough for a family of 4. Food insecurity has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life.
