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 almost 5 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 different in that I now do less of casual labour and I concentrate on my own work at home unlike before when I had to work all day long as I struggled to make ends meet. I feel proud that I have been able to buy two dairy cows that are so resourceful in enabling me meet most of my daily needs. My children too are well fed with a balanced diet since they now have milk to supplement their diet. I have also been able to enroll with NHIF and this has guaranteed me with a healthy family. I feel so much indebted to GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did so well in giving everyone money unconditionally without discrimination. Single mothers like us were particularly proud when we received the money just like any other household in the village. We have since been empowered and we feel proud that our village was chosen to be one of the beneficiaries of the program.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I used part of my second transfer to buy maize worth 6400 for family consumption. I also bought a cow worth KES 24000 and furniture worth KES 2500. I also used KES 3000 to buy poultry for rearing and the remaining amount was used to meet the basic household needs. I made a decision to buy additional livestock having worked so hard to earn a living through casual labour something which was consuming a lot of my time and energy.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($530 USD)
access_time 5 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 cow. I depend on casual jobs in the village to earn an income to meet all the basic needs of my family. Sometimes there were no jobs in the village and this means we had to go without food that day. I used to wake up early in the morning to look for a job and arrived home late hours. I did not have time with my children to bound because I was always a way to do such jobs. Currently, my life has changed in that I no longer do casual jobs in the village. I have devoted all my time to work on my farm and this has led to a good harvest. My children do not go without food like before. I have enough milk for my family and I sell the surplus to earn an income. I pay school fees on time and my children are no longer sent home like before. Their performance has improved and this has made me so happy. I am so much grateful for the support it has changed our living standard.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the morning when I was taking my breakfast with my family. When I checked my phone I got a message from GiveDirectly confirming that I have received a sum of 55000 KES. I immediately inform my family members and the were all happy. From that particular moment, I knew that I will be in a position to buy a dairy cow. We are so garteful for the support we received.
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 bought sofa set seats, utensils, clothes, wire mesh to build a poultry house, ten hens and started poultry keeping project and the rest of the money I used it to buy food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a casual labourer in the village and most of the work I am employed to do is household laundry. For a long time I have desired to become self employed. Receiving this money is a once in a lifetime opportunity to unlock this potential. I am planning to buy a dairy cow and venture into commercial poultry farming. Money I have always used to buy milk will go into savings now that I am going to own a cow of my own. My child is in primary school. I am confident that her future in welfare and education will be secure thanks to my soon to be poultry project. GiveDirectly is fulfilling dreams.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being a single mother has become an impetus for working hard. My daughter means the world to me and every day I go out to make ends meet for the both of us. I would do laundry and weed farms around the village and come back late in the afternoon. By this time my daughter would be home from school. I would eat lunch and spend time with her. This is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Becoming a mother is considered a blessing to many people. On the contrary, becoming pregnant while still under my father's roof is one undoing I will never forget. The parents on whom I always depended turned against me and curtailed the support they've always accorded. When they sent me away from their care, I struggled to build my own house. I had to juggle between nursing my young baby and doing odd jobs in the village to sustain unlimited needs of motherhood. Though I've learnt to appreciate motherhood, I've learnt it the hard way. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in my life.
