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 over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since I have received all of my transfers, I am now saving towards building a timber-framed house. This is because the current house is too small to accommodate visitors and my family at the same time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well to give us cash on an unconditional basis. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought my current one-eighth piece of land four years ago. I had saved towards buying a piece of additional land over the last two years from my motorcycle job. This is because I have been working as a motorcycle mechanic for the last 12 years and on a good day I make a profit of KES 1,000 but my efforts were thwarted by a friend who promised to sell me his piece of land but later changed his mind.
Recently, when the second GiveDirectly transferred I saw this as a good opportunity to buy the land I had always dreamt of. I, therefore, topped my second transfer with some of my savings and bought a quarter an acre of land at KES 70,000. This will be key in the practice of my dairy farming.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home and it was at 10 a.m when I received a notification message.Upon checking, it was a confirmation of receipt of transfer from Givedirectly.With my family, we were thankful to God and Givedirectly for delivering the transfers as we had been promised by the officers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference after receiving my first transfer is the purchase of the piece of land.I am now happy that we are settled on a place to plant during planting season and we can get at least something to sustain us for sometime especially during dry seasons compared to when we use to spend a lot in buying foodstuffs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been grateful since I received this transfer since day one.For the longest time, I had been living in a small piece of land with my young family.I had always wanted to increase land even for planting food stuff but I didn't have a lump sum of money.With Kshs.35,000 from my first transfer,I was able to acquire a piece land which I tilled and planted maize which is going to sustain us after harvesting season in a few months.With Kshs.14,000 I paid a debt which I had and it was accruing interest.I have now fully settled the debt which was stressing me.With the remaining amount,I used to buy food and clothing for my family members.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
If there is one person that this transfer has brought a paradigm shift to their lives, it is myself. I have always long to expand my land. The one I have at the moment is too small. It is 0.1 acres, just enough space for my house and the compound. I can hardly do any farming or livestock keeping. My plan is to buy another 0.3 acres that will cost me approximately KES 105000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual casual job is repairing motorcycles and every morning I go to a garage in nearest Chebunyo market for the job. I normally start it at 8am to 6 pm. My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I am done with the work for the day and have earned wages to enable me buy food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I depend on casual work of repairing motorcycles to put food on the table. I cannot do farming for subsistence because of a lack of enough land. These casual jobs are seasonal and therefore other times we survives on just a meal.The cost of maize grain is high, a 90 kg of maize goes at KES 3000, which to me is expensive. I am struggling to feed my three children.
