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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There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($528 USD)
access_time 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 is currently different because I managed to start three business. I run a shop, sell second-hand clothes and I also own a restaurant. We operate the business with my wife. I had similar projects two years ago but they collapsed which forced us to do casual jobs. I am glad that we were able to start all over again and retrieve the businesses that had previously collapsed and I can say that we are back on track because depending on manual jobs was taking a tall on us.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well by changing the living standards of people in this village. Most of the people were able to meet goals which they had yearned for a long time like buying cattle and building houses. I love the fact that GiveDirectly kept their promise by sending the full amount they had promised without fail. I really do not think there is something they are not doing well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a larger portion of my transfer on starting up three businesses. I sell second-hand clothes, run my own restaurant and operate a shop. I run the three business with the help of my wife who is also a busy woman. Previously, we used to do odd jobs with her which were hard and we would end up being paid a very little amount of money despite the hard work. I could mostly spend the better part of my day sweating while tilling other peoples farm. Today I feel blessed being my own boss just giving services to my customers which I enjoy very much. I also used 15000KES to finish my sugarcane project which I had started using my first transfer. With all these in place, my life has never been the same again. I am grateful that GiveDirectly came and gave me a helping hand which greatly helped me do all these developments.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($546 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to improve my house. The type of soil in our area is very loose and the house can easily collapse if it is not cemented. I will be able to buy cement and pay fundis to ensure it is cemented, this will protect my family from jiggers attack that is very common with dusty houses in our area. I will also use part of the transfer to buy a cow that will produce milk for sale and family use, this kind of investment is key because in future when my children join secondary school I will be able to see the cows to raise their school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is usually in the evening after coming back from work. Because of the anxiety of failing to get my daily income I spend most of the day not happy, but once I have gotten some cash after a days work I feel happy and fulfilled as there shall be food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am faced with is unemployment. I am the last born in a polygamous family and my parents died immediately I finished form four so I was not taken to college for any training. I therefore depend on manual/non skilled jobs which are currently affected with long rains, because we are not able to work in the rice farms while it is raining. Sometimes I have to engage in other kinds of jobs like clearing of roads by local contractors where there pay us piece meal that cannot meet even our daily food requirement.
