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 ($436 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My main goal to accomplish now is to save some money from the sales of my farm produce and the merry-go-round group that we have started in our village to continue paying the school fees for my children in secondary school. It is the dream of every parent to ensure that their children get the best education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The training was perfectly done before we receive the transfer and this made many people in our village invest their money in viable projects that would benefit them for a long time. This was one of the best things that GiveDirectly did since it was perfectly done before the transfer. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent $290 on purchasing a dairy cow. This is because I used to buy milk daily and it was so costly for me. I depend majorly on small-scale farming at home, The income from this is so small and I was not able to save to purchase a dairy cow. I am so happy because Currently I have enough milk for my family and I have cut the daily cost of buying milk. The money that I would have used to buy milk I used in paying part of the school fees. I spend $200 on paying school fees for my two children in secondary school. They used to be sent home and this was affecting their performance ins school since they would miss some lessons. Currently, they are studying well without being sent home. This has given me peace of mind to do my daily activities at home without getting stressed up like before. The remaining amount of money I spent on food, clothes and household items that we were missing in that home. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards,
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 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 8.30a.m and I was at home. I heard my neighbors celebrating as they mentioned Givedirectly. With the poor network in my house, I could not see any message confirming a receipt of my transfer. After twenty minutes, I got the message and I was so excited about the news.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the construction of a spacious house for my son.He can use to study and also spend the night.He longer has to go to our neighbor's house to spend the night.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawal from my first transfer, I spent KES 25,000 on purchasing iron sheets and nails which facilitated the construction of a spacious room for my son. I am happy since he is enjoying the new space and also the privacy. Being a maize vendor it had been difficult to achieve all my family's needs. I also spent KES 15,000 on paying school fees for my son who was joining form one. He is now fully settled for the entire term without being sent home. With the remaining part of the transfer, I spent in buying new pairs of clothes for my children and also bought maize and other foodstuffs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We feel congested in our household because my family of 8 members shares a two-roomed house. Some of my children are forced to sleep in the kitchen because our main house cannot accommodate all of us while ensuring privacy. This has adversely affected my self-esteem as a mother and wife. Hence, receiving this money signifies a great relief to us because we shall extend our main house by building an additional room. As a result, we shall have sufficient space to live and sleep in.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Calving of our only cow about five months ago has been a source of happiness for my family. This is because we have milk for consumption and sale of any surpluses to gain income for financing other household needs. As such, we are less pressured in terms of raising food and other basic needs for my family. Before this, I used to handle some casual jobs such as weeding for my neighbors to gain some income. Currently, I spend most of my time on our farm, something that makes me happy too.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Raising school fees for my daughter who is in secondary school acts as the biggest challenge we are facing as a family. As peasant farmers, raising the required fees of KES 28000 annually is a tough task. This term, she has wasted a lot of time while away from school because she would be sent home to collect the arrears. To date, there are arrears of KES 7000 that we are yet to raise. Precisely, we are always worried about where and how to raise fees so that she enjoys ample study time.
