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
55000 KES ($478 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, I do have a new goal and the goal is to be able to save up enough money from now on and be able to pay school fees for my two children who are now in standard seven and will soon join their respective secondary schools. I am happy and relieved that GiveDirectly helped me to accomplish the things that would have hindered me from saving- building a new kitchen and purchasing livestock. Having accomplished this too, my concentration will now be to work tirelessly on my farm and be able to save enough money that would allow me pay school fees comfortably for my two children when that time comes. I am so grateful to have been part of the beneficiaries of this program.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well in making sure that they conducted a baraza before enrolling anyone in the village. The meetings that were held and the teachings by GiveDirectky staff at individual households served very well in making sure that every rumour that was associated with the transfers was dispelled. This made everyone feel comfortable about receiving the money and made sure that every person put the money into good use.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 35000 to buy building materials for my new house and I have saved another KES 11000 that I will use to pay the casuals that will help in putting up the structure. The remaining amount was used to buy food, clothes and other basic household needs for our family. The house that I am planning to build will serve as a kitchen since the kitchen that I am currently using is an old one. It also has its roofs leaking and is mud walled. The kind of work that I rely in to make income could not allow me to save up and be able to put up this structure before and we had to be able to use this opportunity to put up one. My husband too engages in farming alongside me to earn a living and the amount of money that we may get from it is often just enough to feed the family. We are so grateful to GiveDirectly for the support they gave that has helped us a great deal as a family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11pm while already asleep when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. When I checked it was KES55000 from GiveDirectly I was very excited and could hardly sleep that night. And when my husband came home later that night I informed of the good news and he was very excited as well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is happiness because through the transfers I bought sofa seaters which are more comfortable than the locally made chairs I had before. I also have adequate utensils which are enough to serve a large number of visitors unlike before when I used to borrow from the neighborhood. I'm also grateful because the transfers have enabled me to pay school fees and buy building materials for building a modern kitchen. Initially, I would rely on maize, beans and dairy farming to pay school fees and feed my family as well but GiveDirectly relieved of this time around.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 14000 on 10 Ironsheets and other building materials with an intention of building a modern kitchen once I get the next transfers.This is because the current one is old with leaking grass thatched roofs and mud walls. I spent KES 6000 on school fees, KES8000 on two sofa set seaters, KES 5000 on household utensils because I had only few and KES 3600 on a sack of maize as food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We plan on using KES 45,000 to build a kitchen. The one we currently use is a hut build of mad and a grass roof. It served as our first house and has withstand the weather for years but since last year it pours inside whenever it rains and we are forced not to use it. I hope to build a better kitchen that will be spacious and of iron roofed to withstand the drought and rainy seasons. I also plan on buying a plot of land worth KES 55,000, I will build a small shop in that piece of land and my wife can be self employed. The piece of land is also a future investment for our children, when they get older they will inherit it when they plan on marrying and starting their own families.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Things haven't been easy, there is no market for the maize I harvest and sell but I'm greatful that I was able to save some money and build my son a small hut. In my culture when a boy becomes a young man he is built a small hut where he should sleep, he is not supposed to share a room with the sisters or parents. Before that he was sharing a room with his 2 sisters but now he has his own space and the girls can have more room and privacy as well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a household we depend on farming of maize to sustain our family needs.This year we are facing drought and as farmers this has impacted negatively on our harvest. Before the drought I would get a produce of upto 17 sacks of maize from our one acre piece of land after harvesting. I was selling the maize and used the money to pay school fees, buy food and clothes for my 3 children and wife. But this year I have only been able to get 7 sacks of maize and I don't have any other sources of income. The maize was also our food but now I'm prioritizing on selling it to get money for school fees, because of that my household doesn't have enough food.
