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 ($518 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?
I majorly depend on farming to earn a living to support my family. Before I used to invest the little I earned from casual which means I wouldn't get enough to buy the farm inputs. This demoralized me a lot but I couldn't do anything due to scarce resources. The biggest difference in my life is the ability which I got after purchasing farm inputs on large quantities. I took some amount to lease a piece of land and to buy farm inputs. I am so happy that the crops are doing so well and expecting a good harvest which will give me a good return after selling the surplus. This money will help me to improve my family and some for my children's education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly did well buy giving us nonrefundable transfers. There was nothing which wasn't right with the officers and the whole process was so transparent.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent a large portion of my second transfers to clear school fees arrears for my four children in secondary school so that he would be allowed to sit for their examinations. I spent the remaining amount to buy fertilizers and maize seeds for planting so that we would have food once the crop has been harvested.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I primarily depend on farming as a source of income thus I always try to improve it to increase my returns. The high cost and poor land preparation had been my major challenge for long. My poor farm techniques and the use of low-quality farm inputs led to my poor harvest every year. When I received my first transfer, I took part of it to spend on farming. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to practice timely cultivation and used certified hybrid seeds and fertilizers. I know when the time of harvest comes, I will have better yields. This will ensure food security in my household and an income from the sales of surplus farm produce.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 5 am when I received a message alert on my phone. Since I was awake, I decided to read the message to know who the sender was. To my amazement, I realized that GiveDirectly had finally sent us the promised money. I felt so happy knowing that I would finally achieve all my long-time plans.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I bought three three-seater seats, seat cushions and two tables worth KES 15000 using my first transfer. I settled on this since the seats we were using were few and not comfortable to sit on. Also, I spent some amount on farming. I bought enough certified hybrid maize seeds and hired the services of a tractor for land preparation and planting purposes. I used the remaining amount to cater for my family basic needs. I bought two sacks of maize, decent clothes and shoes. I am now happy since my children will dress decently during this festive season.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means full package of next year's school fees for my four children in secondary school. This amounts to a total of ksh 25000. This means that the money i could have spend in school will enable me to build up savings that will buy me a sewing machine by mid next year hence starting up a tailoring business since i got skills in it. Ksh 30000 from my transfer will enable me to buy a dairy heifer that will in future produce milk for sale hence boosting the daily income i get from selling 4 Litres of milk at ksh 30 produced by the cow i own. I also intend to buy one 300 litre water tank that will be of great help of harvesting rain water during rainy seasons hence i won't have to travel long distance in search of water whenever it rains.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day entails cutting nappier grass and fetching water for my cattle in the morning after my children have left for school and my spouse has left for work. I then head to my farm to cultivate my crops till midday when i return home to do my household chores. Evening is the time my spouse and children comes back home thus every evening reunion marks this the happiest part of my day
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Due to unreliable rainfall in this area that has resulted to prolonged droughts, our lands have been unproductive unlike in the past whereby we could get good harvests from practicing small scale farming and we could sell our yield to earn a living. Paying school fees for our four children in secondary school is so tasking now that my spouse works as a PTA teacher in a nearby school and earns ksh 10000 per month. All his earnings goes to clearing school fees arrears. We mainly depend on selling 4 litres of milk daily produced by our cow at Ksh 30 per litre in order to buy food and other basic needs and whenever there is drought like now, milk production goes down hence the cow produces one litre of milk. I have to sell half of the litre at ksh 15 and the remaining half is left for family consumption. This is the biggest hardship we face in our family
