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 ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to buy more land. I would like to buy two or three points of an acre that I can use in planting nappier grass for my cows. I have a small piece of land and it is not enough to grow feeds for my cows that I managed to buy with the transfers with from GiveDirectly. I would also like to take my children to a private school to study so that they can have a bright future and help us. They are currently studying in a public primary school. I also have a plan to start a business like a shop so that I can help my wife with the household expenses. I am physically disabled and I am not able to work. My wife is the one who usually goes out to look for casual work to do to get money for buying food and milk when the cow is dry.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is not biased in their enrollment process. They enrolled everyone as long as you are living the community and all of them got the transfers directly in their phones. I like this because the transfers did not pass on other people's hands before they got to us. They also did well by going house to house. This way they got to understand and see how the village members are living. Everything was perfect and I do not see anything that I would recommend to them to change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent KES 36000 of our recent transfer on buying two calves. We decided to buy them so that they can help us in the future when they calve. We had bought a cow with part of the first transfer. With the two calves added, we will be able to get more milk in the future that we can sell and get money for starting a business or for paying school fees for our three children. This way I will no longer have to worry a lot about how life is going to be in the future since it is only my wife who is able to work in the household. Other than that, we also spent KES 7000 on making feeding troughs for the cows and another KES 7000 we used it on buying food and clothes for our children. With the remaining transfer amount, I used it on paying off a debt that I was owing someone. We are thus happy and thankful because GiveDirectly uplifted our lives and now we are better than before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11pm while preparing to sleep when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have to received KES55000 from GiveDirectly.I was very excited and withdrew the money on the next day.
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 this transfers is purchase of a quality dairy cow. I had desired to have one before but couldn't afford and this will act as an alternative source of milk especially during a dry spell. I normally rely on maize, beans, onions and dairy farming in order to feed my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES36000 on a dairy cow in addition to the one I had in order to increase milk production. I used KES15000 on putting ceiling board on my house and the rest on food and clothing.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had a shop near my home that I used to earn money from but it collapsed because I did not have enough capital to sustain it. Receiving this money will mean that I will be able to use KES 30000 to revive the business since I am incapacitated and I cannot do any menial jobs to sustain the needs of my family. I plan to buy a cow with KES 40000 from the transfer so that it can supplement the milk that I sell which in turn will earn me money that I will use to take care of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Having a hardworking and supportive wife who provides for us since I am physically challenged has made me happy because my family has not lacked any food and my children have been able to attend school comfortably this year.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I rely on my wife so much when it comes to providing for my family because I am incapacitated and I cannot do any hard jobs. She does casual jobs around here which at times are hard to come by and the money earned is less and so financial constraints have been the biggest challenge that I am facing currently.