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 ($454 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?
I am a local business woman and I usually buy and sell maize.I have not added stock for a long time because I was saving towards buying a maize flour milling machine. Since I bought it courtesy of the transfers, I now want to add more maize stock to my shop.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is supporting us through the unconditional cash transfers. Through this, we are able to achieve our goal and dreams which vary from one individual to another
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I have been into business whereby we buy and sell maize to earn living. I would say the business has been doing well because we have been managing to provide basic needs to our family of five children and pay their school fees. Two years ago, I was interested in venturing into maize milling business but I couldn't afford to buy the milling machine. I had started saving towards the same but I had only managed to save KES 15,000 in a year's time. When I was enrolled in the program, my goal was to spend the two transfers on buying the machine. With the KES 15,000 that I had saved and the first and the second transfer, I managed to buy a milling machine worth KES 125,000. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial support because if I was to do this by myself, it could have taken a really long time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 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 around 5pm in the evening while sweeping my house when I heard an SMS alert on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES55000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy because I had never received such a lump sum before.That night we ate a special beef diet which we rarely afford.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is clearance of my daughter's school fees.This is because I normally on dairy farming to pay school fees which is quite a struggle most of the time. Instead of repaying my posho mill loan for the next fifteen months, I have managed to clear once through the GiveDirectly transfers and I can't be happier.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES10000 on payment of school fees for my daughter in high school because she had school fees arrears. I also spent KES5000 on the latest clothing fashion, KES30000 on clearance of a posho mill loan I had bought last year in September and the rest on addition of my shop stock.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Sometimes in August we purchased a maize milling machine on credit. To this end we are servicing a loan,it has been an headache paying for the loan. It has given us sleepless night trying to raise the money. This transfers came at a perfect time , we will be able to clear the loan and do the finishing of the floor. It needs to be cemented . We intend to use KES 30000 to clear the loan and finish up on the floor. We will use the rest of the money to pay school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Since we establish our small business four months ago life has become better. It has brought a paradigm shift in terms of disposable income we get. At least we get something reasonable from the business unlike before albeit in a small way we have been greatful and happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We have a myriad of challenges but top among these is the loan we are currently servicing. When it is defaulted the consequences are so dire since it can be repossessed by the loaner, regardless of the amount yet to be repaid. We feel like if we clear this loan on time it will give us peace of mind and bring us to the path of success and be self sufficient as well as adequately sustain our family.
