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 ($467 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?
My new goal is to expand my shop business. I want to do so because I want to get more income that is going to help me with my two children who are set to join secondary schools in the next academic year. I want to buy more items that the customers have been asking for but currently, I do not have them.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well when they decided to run the program independently without being influenced by the government officials. If it was so, not all people would have benefited from the program. I would like to urge them to continue with the good work since I do not see anything wrong with their work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the second transfer money on paying school fees for my children and investing in my business. I took out KES 20000 that I used in paying the school fees, and I invested KES 20000 in the business. With the remaining amount of money, I used it in buying school uniforms for my children and I bought food for my family of seven. I was able to clear the school fee balances for the term and hence I have some peace of mind since my children have not been sent home due to arrears. The business has improved a bit and I have been able to save since with the food that we bought with the transfer, I have not taken out any money from the business. We are hence grateful to GiveDirectly because life has changed for the better, we are no longer like before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy in my shop serving customers when I heard my phone vibrating. My heart was filled with joy when I read the message that I had just received until I almost forgot that I was attending to some people. I quickly rushed back home after serving them so that I would inform my spouse about the good news and be able to spend the way we had already planned when she is aware of everything.
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 have been able to acquire an additional asset for my family. I am glad that my family will have enough milk supply throughout the year when it calves. This is because I am now a proud owner of two dairy cows and I am planning to alternate their breeding seasons.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my transfer, I spent KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow as a way of investing this money. I will be alternating its breeding season with that of the one which I already had so that my family will have milk throughout the year. In addition, I spent KES 14000 to purchase more stock for my retail shop that I operate in our nearest trading center. From the remaining amount, I used KES 5000 on maize and other foodstuffs and spent KES 5000 to pay school fees for my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We plan to buy another dairy cow to boost our livelihoods. The one we have now has wean and therefore we are left to buy milk from a neighbour in the meantime before it calves. It is against this backdrop that we intend to purchase an extra one so that it can supplement the production of milk throughout the year and be self-sufficient. When one will have weaned the other one will continue producing milk. The dairy cow will cost KES 35000. I will use the extra cash to boost my business. I own a general shop in the nearby market.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I run a small shop at a nearby market where I sell household goods. My happiest part of the day is in the morning. It gives me joy and hope of a new day. When everything is ok from my family to my cattle is what lightens up my day and gives me the impetus and peace of mind to work and coordinate my shop activities well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Quite often most of the income we get goes towards the purchase of foodstuff especially maize.The production of maize used to do well here but since maize lethal necrosis invaded our crops we have never been self-reliant. This commodity is expensive to purchase. Mark, you there are other needs to be satisfied. Approximately 80 % of our meager income are spent on food.To us, it is weighing us down alot.
