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?
My life is currently different right now because I did not have livestock before receiving this transfer. I now have a pair of oxen to boost my farming with, and also heifers that I am expecting them to reproduce and have a herd. They are savings for the future of my children's education who are still young.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has done well in uplifting our lives by enabling us to build new houses, buying livestock and also taking our children to school. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on purchasing a pair of oxen worthy KES 40000. Having this pair will help me in doing my farming effectively and timely. Also, I will be able to plough my whole acreage for better harvests. I saved KES the KES 18000 to enable me start a small business with this money. I spent the remaining amount of money to buy daily foodstuffs and paying for other household expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($540 USD)
access_time over 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 now own a pair of oxen. I have been having an interest in rearing for a very long period of time but due to my low capital, I could not afford it. The oxen will help me in my farming. Having my own oxen will relieve me of the cost of hiring from my neighbors which were very expensive. Most of the times I could not afford it. I will also be able to increase the acreage of my farm and this is an assurance that the level of food production will increase. I am also planning to hire them to my neighbors at a fee which will be a source of income to me. Through that, I will be able to easily pay school fees for my children and cater for other basic needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 3 am when I heard the message notification. When I checked what the message was all about, I found out it was a Mpesa message from the GiveDirectly informing me that they had sent me my first transfer. I was so excited because they had erased all the doubts I had about them. I was happier to know that finally achieve my goals
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on purchasing livestock like a dairy cow, an oxen, and five goats. I have always been interested in rearing them but due to my low income, I could not afford it. I believe in the near future I will be able to get milk from the dairy cow and also selling the remaining milk to my neighbors. Previously I used to buy from my neighbors which were expensive and sometimes I could not afford. With the pair of oxen, it will help me in ploghing my farm on a large scale and apart from that I will be hiring them at a fee and get an income. With the remaining amount of money, I bought some school uniforms for my children and paying their school fees for the next two terms. This will make them have enough quality time to study and get some good grades.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a housewife who depends solely on my husband and sometimes I feel like I am burdening him too much. I have always felt that I have a role to play in raising our financial status, but I am not able to do so because I lack a source of income. This is attributed to the fact that I am not educated enough to secure a job. I would not want my children to undergo the same life and I believe education is the only weapon that can fight generational poverty in my family. Therefore, I will start a shop business in Karimani centre that will not only meet our current needs but also enable me to save for the future. Besides, I will purchase goats for rearing because they are easy to take care of.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The only time that I am sure of having a meal is in the evening. I always keep myself busy with household chores during the day to avoid feeling hungry as a way of saving food. I am not enjoying this at all but I have to do it because going to bed without food is such a disaster. I am always eagerly waiting for evenings to take supper with my children something that makes me very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine living on a monthly budget of 1500 shillings that is supposed to meet all family needs. Well, as odd as it may sound that has been my life since I got married in 2015. My area is quite dry and we buy almost everything including water which is now 50 shillings per jerrican. Sometimes I am forced to forego other needs like clothing and concentrate on the most pressing ones like food, but the situation is still not working out smoothly.
