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 ($527 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?
I am proud to own a dairy cow in my homestead courtesy of GiveDirectlyt. I struggle to bring in assets that I can take pride in and lean on in case of financial needs but this had been challenging due to limited resources. My income has been too small to cater for both household daily needs and investments. I am currently keeping a cow that recently calved thus I have milk for my family consumption and sales. This has greatly changed my life in that I have added assets and I have reduced my household daily expenditure. I expect to have more offsprings which to me which I can always depend on in case of any financial crisis. To me having livestock on my farm is the biggest difference in my daily life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I urge GiveDirectly to continue with their work of uplifting the needy in society. It has greatly changed our lives and I am happy to have been part of their project. I wish GiveDirectly should look at the special group in the society and treatment differently either by adding them the transfer or keenly looking at their immediate needs and support them accordingly.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer to pay school fees for my children. I am now a happy parent because my children will have a good time to build their future in class. This an achievement for me since I believe my children will only have a brighter future through education. Being a farmer, I used some amount in farming. I bought a cow worth KES35000 to add my herd. I am happy I have added an asset that I will earn from as it grows my herd that I can always lean on. In addition, I took some amount to buy two sacks of maize for family consumption and other household necessities. I spent some money on other household daily needs and petty expenses in the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a dairy cow. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I do not have a constant source of income, I depend on the casual jobs in the village to earn an income to meet all the basic needs including paying school fees for my children in primary school. Sometimes when there are no casual jobs my children would miss to take breakfast and this is so demoralizing. Currently, I have a dairy cow and this has enabled me to get enough milk for my family and sell the surplus at the market to meet other additional needs for the family and also pay part of the school fees for my children in school. My children are no longer missing breakfast like before. I have devoted much of my time to my own farm and reduce the time on casual jobs. I am so happy because our living standard has changed.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received my money. I remember it was very early in the morning around 6:00 am when I heard a message from my phone. When I checked the message it was confirmation that I had received a sum of 55000 KES from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because never before had I received such amount of money in my entire life. My spouse and children were also so happy because they knew we would be in a position to meet all the basic needs of the family as well as make other valuable investments.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy a dairy cow. I used to buy milk from, my neighbors and it was so costly for me. I also bought food for the family and the rest I spent my first transfer to buy a dairy cow. I used to buy milk from my neighbors and this was so costly for me. I also bought food for the family while the remaining amount of money was used to buy farm inputs ready for planting this season.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that i will be able to pay school fees for my niece.Since her mother died,she has been under my care.She has not been able to fully settle in school-constantly being sent home every now and then.She is even home now and currently we have not been able to send her back.Once this is done I will also buy some sheep since they multiply quickly hence I will be assured of a good flock within a year.This I will later sell and buy two dairy cows
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning.This is the time when am mostly engaged in my farming activities.During this time,I will be weeding,ploughing or planting depending on what is there to do at the farm.I derive alot of joy in this activities because through it,my family is fed and clothed.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is raising a young family in this area without a source of income.A household with very young kids requires that there is always money at hand to cater for their daily needs mostly food,clothing and healthcare.Most of the time,this is not the case and we sometimes have to forego some meals and this affects them.Our small piece of land cannot produce enough to feed the family all year round. There is also the burden of school fees for my niece in secondary school which has been a constant worry for us.
