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 ($442 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I intend to rear sheep in the near future so that when they mature, I will be selling some so as to raise money for paying school fees for my children. And in case of financial crisis I would have some livestock to sell. I will raise money through casual jobs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Everything went on well most people never fight since they were having plans before they got the transfer. Nothing wasn't done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My second transfers which I received from GiveDirectly, I spent KES 10000 on buying a water tank for water storage in my compound since I had none. I then spent KES 20000 on buying heifer for rearing for milk production once it matures. The remaining amount, I spent on completing a house which was under construction. I am happy that we now live in a better house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That morning at around 7 is while starting to cook breakfast that's when I received a message alert on my phone. I was very happy and withdrew the money around midday the same 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 these transfers is the availability of money to buy my dairy cow. In one year the heifer will have reproduced and be a source of milk for my family.
I am also grateful because the transfers enabled me to clear school fees for my son in high school. Nowadays, I am stress-free because after the transfer he now concentrates on his studies like the other kids.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly, to feed my family and school my kids I relied on farming maize, sweet potatoes, and beans. Additionally, I relied on buying and selling maize. This is a business I have been doing for the past five years. From this, I usually invest in Merry-go-round contributions to pay school fees.
When I received the transfers I spent KES 25,000 on a heifer. This will be a source of milk for my family once it reproduces in a year. The heifer is a product of a neighbor's dairy cow I had been keeping for the past three years.
Secondly, I spent KES 15,000 on clearance of last term's school fees arrears for my son in high school. Before GiveDirectly, to pay school fees, I worked as a casual laborer in my son's school.
Thirdly, I spent KES 10,000 on payment of the circumcision fee for my teenage son. This is because his circumcision time was due when the transfers arrived.
Additionally, I spent KES 2,000 on the latest clothing fashion for my sons. I also spent KES 2, 000 on furniture because I didn't have a decent seat in my house and used to rely on locally made chairs.
Lastly, I spent KES 3,500 on a bag of maize. And as we speak the remaining maize meal can sustain my family for the next two weeks.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means venturing into business. I am passionate about business as an income-generating. I work as a casual laborer in a school nearby as a cook but my pay is not sufficient to meet all my household needs. I have children in secondary school and they need money for their tuition fee however getting it is a challenge. So I had the ambition of starting a business of selling maize in the nearby town to generate income. In our area, we have maize scarcity due to long drought and the presence of Lethal necrosis disease has rendered most of my villagers dependent on vendors to get maize. To me, this was a good business opportunity and I am optimistic that am going to generate good money out of it. So I will spend KES 55000 of the transfer as my capital.
What is the happiest part of your day?
One of my relatives gave me a cow and a month ago it calved. My children are getting milk for their consumption and I sell the surplus to purchase other house items like food. This has brought joy and happiness into my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is food insecurity. Maize has been our stable food however, for over 5years now, maize has been affected by lethal necrosis disease and the maize dries up before maturity. This has rendered us dependent on maize vendors and to get the money for purchasing them is a challenge since I am a casual laborer at a school nearby where I work as a cook. My pay is KES 1500 per month and this money is subdivided to meet all my household needs including paying school fees for my children. I still owe the school KES 20000 and I am worried that my son will be sent home to collect school fees yet I do not have.
