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 ($490 USD)
access_time over 3 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 so much different than it would be if I had never received the transfer. I am so happy and a proud mother that can take her son to school for his secondary studies. If were not for the transfer, God forbid but primary education would have been his highest level of study. I know I will be struggling to see him through the four years of study but as long he has joined the school, that will be okay. I would not thank GD much enough for that. In addition, I was able to own a dairy cow which I am optimistic that when calves will produce enough milk for commercial purposes.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well giving us a lump sum amount of money that is enough to boost someone's living standard. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly has not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The second transfer was a blessing to me. I had a son who is yet to join form one next week for his secondary studies and I needed a lot of money for his school shopping and fee. His father lost his job (in the tourist sector) last year when Covid 19 pandemic came. This was a big loss to us because he was our sole provider. The money brought a lot of hope to the young boy since it comfortably catered for his shopping and I have also saved some for his school fee come next week.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($516 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
As it was my routine, I woke up and headed to my farm after breakfast. At around 9 o'clock, I received a message notification. Upon checking it's content, I was felt with joy as I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy having received such a huge amount at the middle of a pandemic when I was struggling financially.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that, I was able to clear school fees arrears and paid school fees for previous term. Now I have some savings which I set a side for paying school fees for my child next term. Were it not for the support I believe that I would be a stressful mother struggling to raise money for school fees. I thank GiveDirectly for coming up with the idea of cash transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At the time when I received my first transfers, I was worried on how to raise money for paying school fees for my child. I spent KES 20000 on paying school fees arrears and saved KES 10000 for next term. I then bought a young bull at a cost of KES 9000. I made this investment so that I would keep for sometime and resell it ones it matures. The remaining amount, I spent KES 5000 on buying construction materials for constructing a poultry house and rest on buying foodstuffs for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a lot to me because I am a stay at home mum. My husband works as a driver at a near by game reserve but his salary is not enough to sustain all our basic needs. It will be my joy to at least help out on some bills in the house. Red cross Kenya had an irrigation project in my village and created awareness for self employment to the villagers, but unfortunately not everyone had that chance. I believe it is a profitable idea and so if I get the transfers I will first use 10,000 shillings to buy irrigation pipes and tap water from my neighbours. With irrigation I will be able to get more yields from my harvest and increase our household income by selling agricultural produce from the farm. I will also build a small shelter for my chickens because at the moment I use my kitchen and each day it is a struggle cleaning the kitchen area.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I usually wake up at 7am each morning, milk the cow to get milk fro breakfast, then head to the farm until lunch hours when I go back to the house to cook lunch. In the afternoon I normally take our livestock for grazing within the village until evening. I am happiest in the morning when I wake up because I believe each day comes with new opportunities and because I wake up daily in health.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life has been unemployment, I would love to have enough capital to start rearing poultry in large scale and get some income from it. It is not easy depending only on my husband's income yet I know he really struggles in providing all the basic needs. I don't want to feel like I'm always a burden. If I start my own business then our combined income will be enough for the family.
