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 ($435 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am now focusing farming so that I can be able to able to harvest enough food for the family consumption and let my husband invest the money that he used to buy food on his business. This means that, he will be able to save enough towards school fees for our children once they join high school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is uplifting the poor in the society by giving them unconditional cash transfers. The development that I have witnessed in the village for the last few months is evident that with cash transfers, people are able to identify opportunities that best suits them and invest in them. On the other side, I have not seen an area where you need to improve and I will urge you to continue doing the great work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
During drought seasons, I usually walk for kilometres in search of water only to come home with a 20 litres jerrican. Its usually not easy during these seasons as we have to go for some days without taking shower to save water for cooking and drinking. My biggest desire has been to buy a water tank so that I can harvest water during rainy seasons but this has not been possible as I am just a house wife and we all depend on my husband who engages in business of buying and selling livestock to earn living. When I received my second transfer, I spend $200 to buy 3000 litres water tank and $5 for installation. I spend the balance to pay a debt that I had of $5 and the balance to buy food. I'm grateful that neither my children and I will no longer have to walk for long distance during dry season to look for water.
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 7 am while cooking tea for breakfast. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and withdrew later that day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is the purchase of a heifer. I had desired to own a cow since I got married about six years ago but couldn't afford it. But now I am grateful because GiveDirectly has made possible.
Secondly, through the transfers, I have adequate food which can sustain me for the next three months. Before GiveDirectly, I used to spend KES 500 per week on food and household items but this has now reduced to KES 140 per week.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of two and a farmer who does small-scale farming of maize and sukuma wiki to feed my family. My husband also works as a livestock broker.
During enrollment, my priority was to buy a dairy cow once transfers arrive. True to my word, I spent KES 30,000 on a heifer when I received my transfers. This will be a source of milk once it reproduces. Additionally, a heifer is good to monitor her health and productivity before and after giving birth. Earlier to get milk we used to rely on our parent's in-law dairy cows.
Moreover, I also spent KES 8,500 on two sofa sets seats which have made my house look more homely than before. This is because I had only one sofa which couldn't accommodate my family and visitors at once. But after purchase and as result, my house is more comfortable.
Additionally, I also bought a bag of maize at KES 5,000 because our maize stock was depleted. Usually, to get maize meals we do small-scale farming of maize.
Lastly, I also spent KES 1,200 on two pairs of school uniforms for my kids, and KES 2,500 on clothing for me and my husband.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a decent and spacious house for my family. I am not comfortable with the house that I currently live in because it is small with temperatures going high during daytime because it lacks a ceiling. I cannot have visitors in the house during the day because sweat will soak through their cloths. I am a farmer with a portion of 0.5-acre to cultivate. What I harvest from my farm is only enough to feed my family and that means I do not get surplus to sell. That is why it has not been possible to build a house for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last December I was fortunate to have visitors who came to check on me. Apart from the foodstuff that they brought, they also gave me KES 5000 and this was my ultimate source of happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Getting safe water for household use is a big challenge that I and many residents of this area face. The situation is made worse by the fact that I do not have a water tank to harvest whenever it rains. Every day I wake at 5 am and head to a water pan that is 2kilometers away from home. I make 4-5 trips because once is not be enough to last the entire day. I will be perceived to be lazy if I fail to do this because this is what society expects of me as a woman of the house.
