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 ($517 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I now have livestock in my homestead that include a bull a and a heifer and goats, that I am currently keeping. These are assets to me that I can readily rely on them in case of a financial problem.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I don't see anything that they do not do well. In my opinion,I saw them doing their work well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying iron sheets and building poles in order to construct an extension of a single room. My children can be accommodated. I also bought livestock which include a heifer at KES 24000 and 3 goats to keep and rear in my homestead. I thank GiveDirectly since I now have some assets to lean on in case of a financial problem. I also hired the services of a pair of oxen to help me plough my farm. I spent the remaining amount to buy foodstuffs and paying for other household expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now have an asset. I bought goats which require little attention and their food is easily available. I believe they will soon multiply and according to me, this is an investment. The goats do not depreciate, instead, they will grow and reproduce. I will be selling their young ones in times of need or emergencies. It will also help me avoid taking loans. They will also come in handy when there is no one to offer the loan in the first place.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt very happy. My phone had gone off but when I switched it on a message popped up. I hurried checked to find out what it was all about and I realized that Give Directly had sent the money they had promised us. I was very excited because it was a breakthrough to a happy life. A life where I would at least afford to live decently and afford most of the basic needs.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my transfer on purchasing a solar lantern. I used to fix batteries for the torch in my house for lighting which was unreliable most of the time hence ended up using the torch on my phone when it refused to function. I also bought three goats. These goats will increase in number and I can sell some to get money later on. Part of the money was spent on buying a bed and mattress. Initially, I could sleep on the Giriama beds which were uncomfortable and could spoil within a short period of time. The mattress I previously had was also torn and old. The remaining amount was spent on purchasing a water tank. It helps me fetch water whenever it rains. Before the transfer, I had small jerrycans which could not store more water for a long time. After a few weeks, I had to deal with the water problem again.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
For the past one and half years, I had been operating a very successful poultry business. The task of taking care of my children's needs was very easy despite my husband's meagre income. However, around late last year, there was an outbreak of the bird flu virus in our village and it ended up killing over forty of my hens because I did not have enough money to purchase the vaccines on time. This greatly affected my business thus leading to its collapse. All my efforts to revive it have proven futile because most of the time I spend the little that my husband sends me to buy food for my children. With this money,I plan to construct a chicken pen, stock more poultry and save some amount for buying vaccines so that I can start my poultry business again. I will also purchase a pair of oxen and an ox plough to expand my farming so that my family gets to be food secure all season through.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening hours marks the happiest part of my day. It is the only time that I get to rest after a very long and tedious day of trekking to and fro for over three hours to go to Jila in search of water from the nearest stream. I wake up by 6:00 am and after preparing my child for school, I head out for the stream. I return home by around 9:00 am with a 20litre Jerrican of water. Thereafter, I embark on the household chores. At around noon, I prepare lunch for my children then go out again in search of firewood. By the time I return around afternoon it is already getting late and I hurriedly pick up my Jerrican and head out to the stream again in search of another Jerrican of water for evening use. By the time I arrive home in the evening,I am normally very tired and I only wish to lie down and rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Not having a stable source of income is the biggest hardship that I face in life. Ever since my business collapsed,my husband has remained to be the only bread winner for the family. However, his income is hardly enough to consistently sustain buying food,paying fees, and even stretch as far as buying water which is currently very scarce in our region due to the ongoing droughts. It really pains me as a mother when I have no money and I am forced to ration food for my children just so that I can save some for the following day. Much as I try to sacrifice by trekking for over three hours everyday to Jila in search of water just so that I can save the amount that would have been used to hire a motorcycle to do the same,the amount is still never enough. In the last month alone,I cannot even count the number of times that we were forced to skip one meal in order to save for the other.
