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 ($526 USD)
access_time 4 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 currently different from how it would have been had I never received my transfer since I am now a proud owner of a dairy cow. It had always been my prayer to own one but I had not been able to achieve this due to lack of money. I believe that it will be calving soon and I will have enough milk for our consumption and for sake to earn an income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by helping everyone in the village without any discrimination by sending us money directly to our accounts.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfers, I spent part of it to pay school fees for my children so that they would not be sent back home. Also, I bought two sets of seats and a table since I did not have them. My sons have been sleeping at their grandfathers house and it is always unsafe for them to walk alone at night. Due to this, I decided to build them a house so that they will not be having to walk at night anymore. I spent the remaining amount to buy some decent clothes and food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($532 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. I used to buy milk from my neighbors and it was so costly for me. I depend on casual jobs in the village to earn an income. The amount of money that I received from such jobs is so small and can only gather for the basic needs of the family. Sometimes when there is no jobs in the village my children could go without milk and this was so demoralizing. Currently, I have enough milk for my family consumption and I no longer buy milk like I used to do before. I sell the surplus milk to earn an income to meet other basic needs including saving some amount to pay school fees for my children. I have devoted much of my time to work on my own farm. This, in the long run, will enable me to have a good harvest. I am so much grateful for the support because it has changed our living standards.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. It was early in the morning when my neighbors informed me that she has received money from GiveDireectly. I immediately checked my phone and truly I got the message confirming that I have received a sum of 55000KES. I felt so happy because I knew I would be in a position to buy a dairy cow and cut the daily expenses of buying milk.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer to buy a dairy cow. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I also used some amount to buy building materials to build a house for my son and the remaining amount I used it to buy food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Imagine having to feed and educate your family of 6 from a casual labourer's monthly income of less than $36 each month! 2 years back things were a bit better because i had no child schooling in a high school like today and i also had a cow that used to supplement the household needs through milk sales. This cow unfortunately was sold for school fees last year when my firstborn joined high school. What a relief with Givedirectly coming as i will be able to restore this income by buying another high yielding cow!
What is the happiest part of your day?
Casual jobs are so unpredictable which makes it so hard to put longterm plans in place around them! Anytime my husband comes back home with something in the evening, i always feel refreshed for the next day as this means my children's school fees debts will be reduced and we will have food for the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It is so frustrating seeing my 4 children being sent home so often because of school fees that we can't afford to pay! This has resulted from my husband's on and off low paying job together with my household's inadequate farm land. My children love school so much and they always feel that we are letting them down which ain't easy to bear.
