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 ($497 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 different in that I was able to pay for the school fees for my two children in secondary school which was not easy before. We used to do casual jobs with my spouse in the village and save the little money that we used to get for school fees. Getting this casual jobs was not easy. The amount of money that we get was so small and cannot meet all the basic household needs which was so expensive. This means that the amount we could save for school fees was so little. My children could be sent home from school to collect the money. Due to the fact that I did not have the full amount they could stay home for a quite some time which was Also affecting their performance since lessons were going on. When I received the second transfer I was able to pay all the school fees and my children were not send home. Their performance improved and they are so happy and working hard . I also have peace of mind and I have devoted most of my time on my farm which was not the case before. I am so happy because I am able to plan my own work at home.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to improve their standards of living and also in meeting other basic needs including paying school fees for children in various schools. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend the money I received from GiveDirectly to buy sofa set seats, school fees for my two children in secondary school and the rest of the money I used it to buy basic needs for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($502 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 2pm while preparing to go to the nearest Maize mill when I heard my phone ring. On checking my phone I was very happy because it was GiveDirectly transfers and immediately relayed the good news to my husband and we both excited.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is happiness because my son who had cleared fourth form two years back wanted to join a college but couldn't afford. But through the GD transfers, I have managed to enroll him in a course of his choice and now I am relieved of school fees burdens which wouldn't be possible before. The transfers have also motivated me to work harder in order to pay next school fees for the term. I am also very grateful because through the transfers I have managed to buy adequate utensils for my house which can be used by visitors unlike initially when I used to borrow from my neighbors.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 45,000 on payment of school fees for my two girls and a son who are still in school because I couldn't afford to pay before and never received such a lump sum before.Initially, we used to rely on casual labor like farming in order to pay school fees. I also spent KES 8000 on my kid's school uniforms and home clothing because initially they used to put on second hand clothes. I also spent KES 1300 on a water storage container for water storage because every time it rained I would preserve any water and used to rely on river water. I also spent KES 3200 on a sack of maize in order to ensure food adequacy for my kids because our place is marked by long dry spell and food and money is difficult to come buy.
Enrolled
access_time almost 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I usually work at a quarry 5 kilometers away from my home. Every morning I walk there and come back in the evening. I have been doing this for the last 7 years. The money I get from this work can hardly buy us food for our daily survival despite the work being so difficult. I feel like I should try other means of making a living but I have no money to start me off. With these transfers I would like to plant a variety of vegetables here since there's a big demand for fresh produce in this nearby town. I will also irrigate this garden because the dry season is usually prolonged in this area and I do not want to be a seasonal farmer.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am done with difficult work in the quarry. At that time I usually have a few coins in my pocket to buy food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I lost 9 cows at a go in 2013 to a disease called the East Coast Fever. These cows were the source of our livelihood. We could sell milk and make $100 a month. My children even when they were in high school never had a problem with school fees because of the money I used to make from these cows. Immediately they died life changed for the worst and since then I have been going through the biggest hardship in my life.
