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 ($465 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Paying the debt and renovating the house are the new goals that I did not have before receiving the transfer. I feel at peace now having that I have paid the debt that was giving me some sleepless nights. My house also looks decent. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled us to fulfil our dreams.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The training and the registration process were done well. Many people who received the transfer spent it well. This is what GiveDirectly does well. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 12,000 to pay a debt that I had borrowed from a friend. This was always my main concern. I had no savings to pay back and this had disturbed me for long. I have paid the debt and I have peace of mind to do my daily activities without being stressed up. I spent part of the money on renovating my house to look decent. The house now looks nice and I feel good because I had wished to have a decent house before. I bought sofa set seats and tables. Whenever I have visitors I no longer get worried since I have enough seats. The rest of the money I spent on food and household items. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has enabled me to purchase some of the items that could have taken quite some time to own.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy when I received the money around 11:00 pm. Even though I was already asleep, I could hear a faint notification alert from my phone but could not check at that moment till the next morning when I woke up to the good news. I had to call my helper who read and confirmed that the message was from GiveDirectly and had received the first transfer that I had been anticipating. We planned on visiting the nearby shopping center since we needed to withdraw all the amount before spending.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
After receiving the first transfer, a lot have been working out so easily. Most of the things I had been struggling with and would take me weeks before a breakthrough currently gets accomplished within the stipulated timelines due to the availability of finances and any resource that would otherwise be missing. I am grateful for the financial support that has brought a lot of ease in the daily tasks saving me a lot of time to explore other options that can earn me more income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the receipt of the first transfer, I had a lot of plans lined up that I needed to accomplish. At the top of my list was the establishment of a poultry farming that I needed to start small - first by constructing a chicken coop. I spent KES 6000 on the purchase of the construction materials, paid the labor charges, and later brought in three chickens that are currently laying eggs that in turn are sold to pay for other small household goods. I also obtained a piece of furniture that came with the sitting cushions at KES 3200 to replace the wooden bench that we had been using. I also added some food to the foods baskets worth KES 6000, repaid a KES 12000 loan that I had with then shopkeeper, tilled and planted my piece of land with a total cost of KES 1000, bought a sheep that came with a lamp, and saved the remaining that I had been using to replenish any household good whenever we run short of.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means food security for my family will improve. Three years ago we used to depend on maize as our stable food but it has since then been affected by diseases and no longer does well. I have a cow that produces two liters a day. I sell one liter of it so that I can buy maize. I am old and have become less productive. One tin of maize is sold at KES 100 so that means I have to accumulate my sales from milk for three days so that I can buy maize. When I get this money I will buy three bags of maize costing KES 3000 each and purchase one cow costing KES 20000 so as increase milk production.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have one hen whom I had given ten eggs to incubate and two weeks ago all the eggs I had given hatched. These brought joy into my life since I saw that they could be a good source of income when I sell them when they grow.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I am currently facing is food insecurity. I am old and I sometimes depend on my children for food. I used to plant maize for both commercial and consumption but for the last three years, it has been affected by pests and diseases. I now depend on one cow that I have whom I milk two liters per day. I sell one liter to get money for buying food of which I have to accumulate for days.
