GiveDirectly: Send money directly to the extreme poor

2nd Payment

Transfer Amount

53150 KES ($501 USD)

over 4 years ago

How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?

The money which I received has brought a lot of changes in my life. The biggest difference is the house which I constructed a few months ago to help me accommodate sons. They used to live with us but after initiation, they needed their own to live in. Again, The cow which I bought has enabled me to add my stock and have more milk. I get to sell the surplus which earns me income. Thanks to Give Directly for all these differences which have happened to me.

In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?

In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in giving us the transfer in order to improve our living standards because we were in total poverty. Our lives have greatly changed ever since because we have been able to build new houses and paying school fees for our children. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.

What did you spend your second transfer on?

I spent the second transfer on buying a cow. I bought a heifer because I needed to prepare myself for milk production as a source of income. I also paid KES 13000 to clear school fees for my child who is in high school. He is now comfortably continuing with his studies. The remaining portion I spend on buying food for the guests on pass out celebration for the initiates.

Initial Payment

Transfer Amount

55000 KES ($530 USD)

5 years ago

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.

The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have bought a heifer. I buy milk from my neighbors and its so costly for me. I depend on the small business of a retail shop to earn an income to meet the basic needs of my family. The cost of milk is so high to the extent that at times we could miss to get the money to buy and this means my children would go without breakfast which is so demoralizing. Currently I much as I still buy milk I have hope that when the heifer has reproduced I will be in a position to get enough milk for my family and also sell the surplus at the market to earn an income to meet extra needs for the family and even save some amount to pay school fees for my children in school. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has given me hope and I live with many expectations that our lives will change in a better way.

Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?

The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard a message notification from my phone. When I checked it it was a message from GiveDirectly confirming that I had just received a sum of 55000 KES. I felt so happy because never before had I received such an amount of money before. I informed my spouse and children and they were also happy about this. We made a budget with my spouse that morning on how to spend the money.

What did you spend your first transfer on?

I spent my first transfer to buy a heifer. I normally buy milk from my neighbors and it's so costly for me because I depend on the small business of a retail shop to earn an income. I also bought building materials ready to build a house for my children while the remaining amount of money was used to buy food for the family.

Enrolled

5 years ago

What does receiving this money mean to you?

For a long time livestock keeping has been the backbone of education for my children. They go to school out of income I earn from sale of milk. I currently have two cows which give me 6 litres of milk for sale everyday. With a price of 40 KES per litre, my income for the day is 240 KES and 7,200 KES (72usd) per month. With my first transfer I am planning to buy an extra dairy cow which can give me at least 5 litres per day. I anticipate to see my monthly income rise to 13,200 KES (132usd) thanks to the cash transfer program. This increase in income is going to boost my shopkeeping business by restocking more products. Some of the items I deal in include household items like sugar, salt, cooking oil, soap etc and clothing. I hope to establish my enterprise as successful enough to make enough savings for my children's future education even in tertiary level.

What is the happiest part of your day?

I have been a shopkeeper for the past 3 years. One of the reasons I love this job is because of its close proximity to my home -which has enabled me to attend to other domestic duties in the morning like feeding livestock before heading there. When customers are streaming in one after another during the day, it makes me happy to serve them while cognizant of the profits I expect to make at the end of the day. These are the profits which together with livestock production income have catered for our children's books, school uniform and food for the family.

What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?

How relatable to you is the saying "familiarity breeds contempt"? Or rather has it ever occurred to you that the people you thought would help row your boat are major contributors to its stagnation? Let me explain. When I decided to start a shopkeeping enterprise about three years ago, almost impulsively I settled on a shopping centre about 7 minutes walk from home. In any case my people will promote my business. Or so I thought. My objective for this business was so will complement my livestock income in providing the family with funds for our children's education and household needs like food. Until it didn't. Several people including relatives, friends and neighbors would throng my premise but due to hard economic times in the community most of them take items on credit. In the spirit of a good neighbor I let them -my regret. Some of my customers have defaulted and gotten away with accumulation of huge debts. Some genuine while others, contemptuously deliberate! They have become a huge impediment to my success, making it hard to meet my business goals. This is the biggest hardship I've faced in recent times.