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 was able to purchase some spare parts and repaired my motorcycle. I am a motorcycle taxi rider, This is my main source of income. I always had a lot of mechanical problems. This was affecting my daily routine work. I I was not in a position to get the money to buy the basic household items. When I received the second transfer I found it Worth to invest in repairing my motorcycle. Currently I do my job well, I no longer experience any mechanical issues. I am in a position to buy all the household needs and pay school fees for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled me do my work comfortably.
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 spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on Sofa set seats, I build a house using the previous transfer but I had purchased the seats. I also spend part of the money on food and clothes for my children. The rest of the money I bought an ox and spare parts and repaired my motorcycle. I am so happy because now I can do my motorcycle taxi business without it breaking down like before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 6 am in the morning while I was still asleep, and heard a message notification on my phone. Upon checking it was GiveDirectly transfer , I got out of bed and waited for breakfast then went to withdraw the cash as soon as I was done with the breakfast.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I bought two cows which when I look at I feel ownership and am sure that in future am going to be milking my own cow and my children will be able to enjoy milk from their own cow.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought 2 heifers which will be of age in a year and is quite an investment for me. I also bought clothes for my children and a bag of maize to be used as food in my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always desired to venture into dairy farming. I feel that it will be an additional source of income for my family. I am planning to buy a dairy cow worth 40000 shillings. This will save me the cost of buying milk every other morning. I have a family of 5 young children and every day I spend 120 shillings buying them milk. If I get my cow, I will be able to milk at least 7 liters each day. I will sell 4 liters in a nearby market for 40 shillings a liter and leave the rest for domestic use. This will earn me 160 shillings which will go to my savings.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evenings are the happiest part of my day. This is the time I get to rest from the hard day's work, like weeding on my farm and looking after the livestock. In the evening is when I get to have some rest and also enjoy bonding sessions with my young children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Providing for my family is the greatest hardship I have had to face lately. Our source of livelihoods is mainly farming and with unpredictable weather conditions, this venture is really risky. I farm an area of 1 acre and believe it or not, every other harvesting season I hardly get enough to sustain my family to the next season. Last year, for instance, I managed to get only a sack of maize. This is just a drop in the sea considering that I have 5 children to feed for the rest of the year,.
