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
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?
I have a new goal of starting my own business. Currently, I am working as a butcher but I am working for someone else. This job earns me an average of $5 per day. With the current economic times, this amount is so little and can hardly sustain the needs of my family. It is fir this reason that I am looking forward to starting my own business. I am focusing on starting my own butchery where I will be able to make more money from it. The main challenge that I am facing is where I will get enough capital to do this business. It will require me to have at least $500 to start this business. I am taking part in a monthly merry go round contribution plan that will see me progressively work towards achieving this target. I am very hopeful that I will reach this target soon.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by giving cash as a form of aid. The fact that each person receives cash as a form of aid gives us an equal opportunity to choose how well we want the money to help us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving this transfer, my family and I were living in a small single house that be served as both kitchen and main house. When I received the second transfer, I used $300 to build a new house. I used another $100 to buy goats for rearing. I had for a long time had the desire of building a better house but the amount of money that I make from the butchery that I work in is just enough to buy food for my family. I make $5 per day and this money is hardly enough to meet the needs of my family especially now with the current high cost of living we are experiencing. The remaining amount was used to buy furniture for our new house. I am so delighted that we now have a new house to live in. GiveDirectly has made our home more comfortable to live in.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was on my way home that evening around 9:30 pm when I received a text message. At first I assumed it was the normal promo code messages that I was used to receiving but after opening the message, I found out that I had received my first transfer. I was so happy and I couldn't wait to get home so that I can tell my wife about such great news.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Honestly, we haven't noticed a great difference yet but the cow that I bought is mature enough to give birth in a year's time. We will be so happy to sell milk and earn income and we are also looking forward to build a permanent house once I receive my second transfer. We will have transformed our home far away from what we thought we could achieve.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I work as a butcher to earn living and my wife and our first born are fully dependent on me. When I got married to my wife, I promised her to build our family a specious two bedroom house so that we could move out of the single room that we live in. Owing to the tough economic times, this remained like a nightmare because I couldn't afford to feed my family and save towards building a house with the small salary that I earn. When I received my first transfer, I thought of first, buying a dairy cow so that we could supplement my income through selling milk and I spend KES 35,000 to buy a cow. I also spend the balance to buy iron sheets and I'm looking forward to build my house once I receive my second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means I will be able to purchase a piece of land. My household lives in a family land and we are congested and conflict arises easily. So when I receive this transfer I will spend KES 32000 to purchase 0.1 acres of land. I can then relocate my family to live peacefully.
What is the happiest part of your day?
With the small piece of land that I have, I planted maize which is yet to mature. I am optimistic that it will yield well and my family will get enough food shortly. This has brought joy and happiness into my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is family conflicts. Our family is extended and resources are limited and there is competition for the little resources available which leads to conflict. Financial constraints have contributed much since if we had money we would purchase our land and relocate there and also be able to start income-generating activities.
