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 ($528 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?
My life is different in that I have total peace of mind after accomplishing the things I never thought I could accomplish anytime soon. The fact that I have already bought my own cow as well as built a new house for my family as well as my son who just graduated to adulthood is just satisfying. These are things that I always dreamt of accomplishing but due to financial constraints, I could not accomplish any of them any sooner until GiveDirectly came in handy to help me accomplish them. I feel so proud as a mother and very indebted to GiveADirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did so well in giving us money directly to our phones. This assured us that the anount of money received from GiveDirectly was in its totality contrary to a situation whereby there would have been middlemen who would take part of the money to benefit themselves. We also felt so much proud pf the teachings received from GiveDiorectly about these transfers before we could receive. This helped us a lot in making decisions on how best we could put our money into good use to reap maximum benefits from it. On the other hand, I thought GiveDirectly could do better by rewarding those who spent their money wisely and changed their lives. This would serve as a lesson to those who received money and misused as well as those who are yet to receive the money. Those who are yet to receive the money would be looking forward to make the best decisions on how to spend the money due to this.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I used KES 30000 to buy a dairy cow and used KES 15000 to build a new house for my child who had just graduated to adulthood and needed a separate room to sleep in. It was so sad seeing him travel for long distances every night to sleep over at a neighbor's place. I felt I had failed in my responsibility as a parent but I could do very little to save the situation. When I received money from GiveDirectly I took it a first priority to build him a house and I feel proud that I have been able to complete the house for him. He is equally very happy and grateful for this. I also made a decision to buy a dairy cow for the family. We had one that was producing very little amount of milk that was hardly enough to feed the family. The one that we had moreover did not belong to us but we had borrowed it from our neighbor as we looked forward to accumulating enough money and buying one of our own. When we received money from GiveDirectly we took it upon us to buy one that is just about to have its first calf. We know that once it reproduces we shall have enough milk for the family for consumption as we even sell the surplus to meet other family expenses like payment of school fees for our children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Changes have been a lot since we received the money from GiveDirectly. Among them is the availability of enough foodstuff and farming. The biggest difference so far is the construction of the two new houses and the renovation of the interior part of the old one by the installation of the ceiling board and the new furniture.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the moment when I received the money from GiveDirectly, happiness filled our house. Everyone had to wake up that early to witness the blessings which had come that early to our household. We celebrated the receipt of the money and thank God for sending the great organization to our village. Deep inside my heart, I was also grateful that all the projects we had been planning to execute were finally coming to pass.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
After receiving the first transfer, we sat down with my household members and made a decision to improve all that we have been wishing to see them accomplished in our household. We started with the purchase of 29 iron sheets, some of which were for the construction of a new house belonging to our elder son, chicken coop since we had a plan to start a poultry farming, and also used the other in the construction of a kitchen. We used part of the remaining amount on the purchase of plywood which we used as a ceiling board in our house and currently we are cutting timber in preparation to renew our furniture.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
For a long time my first born son has been sleeping over at my neighbor's house. Not that I didn't have money, but educating my three children and providing for other household needs like food has been more of a priority than building him his own house. But now that I am going to receive money from GiveDirectly this means it's time I accord my son the dignity and comfort he deserves by putting up a house for him at a cost of $200.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My children closed school last week for holiday and will be at home for the next two months. Next month being a maize planting season, my children have come in handy in the preparation of my land for planting. We cultivate our farm every day from morning till afternoon and I am happy that our collective effort has paid off.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I practice small scale horticultural farming growing onions and tomatoes in a 0.2 acre piece of land at home. Due to inadequate supply of rainfall and disease infestation, I have often made loses which have thus affected the education of my children and living standard of my household. This predicament has also been contributed by my lack of funds to buy pesticides to tend my crops.