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 ($524 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Now I have two dairy cows and an ox that I now own has really transformed my life in a big way. I got some milk for sale which can enable me to cater to my daily expenditure, the remaining few litres are for my family's consumption, my children are now healthier than when I used to depend on casual jobs for a living. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for coming into my village. Being among the beneficiaries makes all the difference.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give Directly changed my community through unconditional transfers which empowered us to change our living standards.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I majorly depend on subsistence farming to support my family. When I received the second transfer, I took part of it to buy livestock. I bought a lactating dairy cow and an ox. I use to spent a lot on buying milk for use at home. Now I have milk for both household consumption and sales and I got to save the income for supporting my children in school. Also, I used some amount to buy some food for the family since I had little food left for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($531 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 have bought a dairy cow. I used to buy milk and it was so costly for me. I do casual jobs in the village which gives me very little income that is hardly enough to meet the cost of the basic household needs for my family. At times, we could not meet the cost of buying milk and even end up not having break fast for that day. I have started a small business of buying and selling hens in the village and with the profits, I have been able to meet the cost of buying milk and other basic household needs. We currently have enough milk for consumption within the household and even surplus production that can always be sold to meet other needs of the family like paying school fees. We are so grateful to GiveDirectly for the support that they have given us since it has really changed my life and that of my family a lot.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my money I felt so happy. It was very early in the morning when I received a call from my neighbor informing me that he had received the money and immediately when the call was disconnected I checked my phone and I had just received money too from GiveDirectly. I had never received such amount of money before and I felt so happy because I knew from that point that I was finally going to buy a dairy cow and cut the cost of buying milk going forward.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer on buying food for the family, clothes, and utensils. I used the remaining amount to buy a dairy cow and improved hybrid seeds for planting this season.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wished to practice dairy farming since its a lucrative activity around this place but due to lack of finances, it has been hard to achieve this dream. My spouse and i have therefore planned to prioritise our transfer in buying two fressian cattle which will earn us some income whenever we sell milk. The remaining part of our transfer will enable us to also initiate poultry farming which will in turn boost the income we will be getting from dairy farming
What is the happiest part of your day?
Two weeks ago, i was blessed with twins; a boy and a girl. I therefore spend the day looking after them as my spouse goes to work. I am usually happy in the evening whenever he is back from work since its the time he reunites and bonds with his children as i prepare our evening meal.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unreliable source of income has been a great challenge in my family. Now that we live near the forest, my husband engages in an illegal activity of burning charcoal for sale, something that has seen him being arrested on several occasions and fined heavily by the authorities yet there ain't any other job around that he would engage in. On my side, i normally go to the forest to collect firewood for sale something i can't do right now since a gave birth to twins two weeks ago hence i haven't been strong enough to continue with it. This is the biggest hardship we face in our family