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 ($518 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?
In my life, many things have improved including the fact that I started a business. As we speak, I am at the market selling clothes. I make up to KES 1500 per day. I am very comfortable financially. My children are doing better because they are in a boarding private school. My life is better than before I received the transfer because of the income I get from the business. I would never have started the business If I had never received the transfer.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in teaching us how to access money from MPesa. Many of us in the village had never used mobile money before. It would have been chaotic were it not for the good GiveDirectly staff who ensured that we knew how to operate the accounts. We gained smooth access to money.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the second transfer on buying a piece of land. I had been paying for a piece of land for a long time but when this money came, I was able to clear the balance and fully take control of the land. I then started a second-hand clothing business in a nearby market center.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($545 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 after receiving the transfer is the great happiness that came to our household. Things started moving on well and harmony was restored in our household. We are now thankful that GiveDirectly delivered on their promise.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment of receiving the money, we had waited for such a length of time as we pray that they come as we had been promised. No one would believe in the first place when we were told that there was a free cash transfer coming our way. This is because we were used to the loans we had been obtaining which repayment was a struggle which would sometimes lead to some properties being auctioned by the loaners. At this, we were filled with happiness and we really thank God that He was finally fulfilling the promise He had given us.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Upon receiving the first transfer, I made a decision to spend part of it on buying a piece of land. I have been living all along on the small piece which my father gave me but had never been enough to till and at least plant some foodstuff. I saw this as a great chance to obtain my own so that I can start constructing a house before moving in with my children. With the remaining amount, I decided to invest in buying livestock. It was just enough to use in buying two sheep and the last few coins on buying foodstuff and other household goods.
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My dream has always been to own a piece of land.I will therefore buy 0.2 acres of land when I receive this money.I currently live in my parents land.For the sake of my children in the future,I need my own piece.The land will also help me practise livestock farming since I will be having my own space.This will greatly boost my income.The piece of land will cost me around Ksh 80,000(800 USD).I will also use Ksh 5,000(50 USD) to boost my egg business.I collect eggs around the village and add to what I get from my poultry then sell to a dealer who comes to collect from my house every Monday.I sell 3 trays every Monday.Given that the demand is high,I want to increase that to 7 trays.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the morning hours in my farm which I was given by my parents to cultivate.In the afternoon I go about my business of collecting eggs to buy from within the village.This is the happiest part of my day because the business is my main source of income.At the end of the day I will get food for my children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a single mother of 3 and raising my children has been an uphill task.It reached a point that I had lost hope that I had contemplated to kill my children.I had no source of income.My uncle came to my rescue and gave me Ksh 1,000(10 USD) to start a business.I started buying and collecting eggs in the village then selling to a dealer at a profit.I have done this for one year now and I have hope of growing the business more and more.I have bought my own chicken too in order to boost this business.
