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 ($469 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The new goal that I didn't have before I received the transfer is purchasing a motorcycle. This was not in my daily plans because I didn't had the money to buy it. Currently I have a motorcycle and I used it as a taxi business. This earns me an income to support my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirecly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better house and to buy dairy cows. During the registration process everyone was registered and there was no discrimination. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 38,000. To purchase a motorcycle. This enabled me to earn an income. I used it for transportation. The money that I get through this is for meeting the daily basis needs. I spent some amount on Seedlings ready for planting on my farm. I paid school fees for my children in primary school. The rest of the money I spent on food and clothes for my children. I still have some amount for other basic household items. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 10 a.m when I received a message bearing great news from GiveDirectly. I was excited to confirm that the promise that I had been given some months ago was finally in. I was fencing around my piece of land around my home. At that moment, my spouse was out to fetch water and on arrival, I welcomed her with the news that excites her a lot. Even though we were so certain that the money will come in, the excitement was overwhelming.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the availability of milk after a long time buying milk from the neighborhood. Buying a dairy cow has enabled us to enjoy the free provision of enough milk from our cow that that though we don't get a surplus to sell, we have a lot of hopes that the future will be better. I have managed to save quite a lot that I would have used in buying milk and using it in providing other household needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It was on Thursday morning after I had aligned all that I had to purchase on the first day. With the first KES7500, I purchased two sacks of maize and 10KG rice that we are still using as foodstuff. After buying milk for such a long time, I also had to buy a dairy cow at KES36000 that provided us with half a liter on the first day that has been improving to the current two liters every morning and another two liters in the evening. I managed to pay tuition fees of KES700 for my children currently in primary school, bought them new clothes worth KES2000, and also bought three chickens with the remaining amount. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the great support and looking forward to the second transfer that will boost other running projects and even enhance the start of new ones.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means Improved nutritional status for my children. I would like to buy a dairy cow. This cow will give us milk for household use and if in surplus generate income. I intend to spend KES 45000 purchasing the cow. I do small businesses selling seedlings of different kinds of vegetables. This business is not consistent I do it on alternate days. I earn 400 per day. This little money I earn I divide among my household needs and purchasing seeds however, this money is not sufficient to meet all my needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I had planted tomatoes and I made a profit. The capital was KES 3250 but the profit was KES 20000. This enabled me to construct another house for my children. This brought joy and happiness into my life since my children could now get a place to sleep. Before we use to sleep together. There was no privacy and this was uncomfortable as my children were grown up.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I am currently facing is insufficient food. I do small businesses selling vegetable seedlings. My earnings are minimal this does not sustain all my family necessities. Our area is prone to drought. We used to depend on maize as the main cash crop but for the last 3 years, it has been affected by diseases. So the little money I earn from my business goes to purchasing food but is still insufficient.
