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 ($502 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
For the first time now, I will be using my own pair of oxen to plough my farm. I used to hire from neighbours during the planting season which was costly on a larger piece of land. I am glad that I will no longer be hiring, instead, I will be hiring to neighbours at a fee thus earning an income. I have also been able to take my son to high school. It would have taken me some time to raise enough money to do the shopping and paying the fees. He is now comfortably in school since I managed to pay for him.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in transforming our lives by giving us the money. The transfer enabled us to fulfil what our financial needs and goals such as taking our children to school, building new homes and buying livestock as assets to us. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
My son had completed his primary education and was to join high school. I needed to do adequate shopping for him on stationeries and also to pay for his starting terms fees. When I received my second transfer, I spent KES 20000 the shopping for him on stationeries and also bought school uniform and since he was joining a boarding school, I gave him a portion also for his upkeep. I took the remaining amount to pay for his school fees in advance to avoid him being sent home.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I have been doing my farming late since I lacked the necessary tools to use for farming. Thus the harvest was not much. Also, my farm was at times underutilised because I couldn't manage to cultivate the whole acreage. When I received this money, I bought the pair of oxen which to me was the best remedy for improving my farming. In addition, it will relieve me the cost of hiring which has been the norm for every planting season. Owning this pair of oxen to me is the biggest difference in my daily life because I am expecting my farming practice to change drastically for better harvests, which will ensure enough food is available for my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the notification in the morning confirming that I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. As I read through the message that morning, I could not hold back the joy that I felt and thanked GiveDirectly for fulfilling their promise to us.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent KES 33000 to buy a pair of oxen and an ox plough. I bought this pair so that it would help me in my farming. I have been hiring from neighbours during the planting season which was costly for me. My greatest joy is that I will no longer be hiring from my neighbours, instead, I will be hiring to them at a fee, thus earning an income. My children have been seeking shelter from the neighbours at night. This was not giving me peace at all. Because of this, of this, I spent KES 16000 to purchase enough building materials which includes iron sheets, building poles and paid for the labour. I am now in the process of constructing a house for them. I spent the remaining amount to cater for the basic needs of my family such as foodstuffs and paying some household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a subsistence farmer growing maize on my 1.5 ha pieces of land using the traditional methods of farming. The harvest from my farm is at most 1.5 sucks which can not sustain my family of 8 for even a month. My dream has been to expand my farming but due to inadequate financial resources, this wish has never materialized. Receiving this money means the realization of my desire for food security for my family. I am planning to purchase an ox and ox-plough with my first transfer that will help me in early preparation which will increase food production from my farm. Furthermore, I am planning to hire them out to my neighbors at a fee of $12 per day.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The afternoon is the happiest part of my day because I normally have my first meal with my family at this time as I can manage one meal per day. In the morning I am always busy wedding my farm and my children cry a lot at this time due to hunger.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity has been a big challenge in my life. I am only depending on the old ways of farming which are characterized by a poor harvest. This has forced me to resort to hiring oxen from a neighbor which is very expensive and hard to get during the cultivation period, something that has led to constantly skipping meals as I can hardly afford a meal per day. watching my children crying every morning as a result of lack of enough food has eaten away my joy in life. Therefore, I consider the lack of adequate financial resources as my biggest hardship.
