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 ($527 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?
In my life, GiveDirectly had a huge impact on getting me on course to having a better income-generating source. I used to be employed to do hairdressing and the pay was very little. Having my own salon has increased my earnings. I make about KES 1500 per day as compared to the daily wage of KES 400 a day when I was working for another person. I am so grateful because I will never lack food or clothes anymore. The money I make from operating my own business is sufficient to provide for my family of four and even to support my parents in meeting their daily needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, I think that GiveDirectly is the best because it treated everyone equally. No one was treated differently in my village. All the people got an equal chance and an equal amount of money to build their own lives. There is no way that GD did not do well in.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the money I received from the second transfer on starting a hairdressing business. I bought the equipment that I needed and bought different kinds of hairstyling materials. I also bought a dairy cow that is already in production. I finally bought some food for the household.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time almost 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 been able to greatly reduce my daily expenditure. First, I no longer buy maize flour daily because I was able to buy one sack of maize flour using part of the transfer. Also, I not only save the money I would otherwise use in buying milk but I also earn an income through milk sales. I have been able to save this money and I am intending to use it when the schools reopen.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I realized that GiveDirectly had finally had us the promised money at around 8 am after I heard some of my neighbors talking about how they were planning to go and withdraw theirs. My heart was filled with happiness as I read the Mpesa message over and over again. I knew that my life would finally change and be like that of other people in the village.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I spent part of it to buy a dairy cow. I decided on this so that I would be able to reduce my daily expenditure by not buying milk. Also, I bought some iron sheets and timber to use in building a house for my children. I settled on this so that I would always have a place where my children and visitors will be sleeping in. I am planning to use part of my second transfer to start building this house. I used the remaining amount to some decent clothes for my children, one sack of maize flour and 12 kg of rice.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being a trained salonist,I have always wanted to acquire equipment and also start my own hairdressing business.Lack of funds has hindered me from achieving all these.Getting this transfer will enable me purchase the hair dressing equipments and with the knowledge I gained from the technical institution I attended, I will be able to open my own hair dressing business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Imagine starting a day with the thoughts that you are the sole bread winner in your household.I am a trained hairdresser and my day entails going to the nearest market centre for the purposes of offering my hairdressing services at a fee.I am excited mostly in the evening after getting a few coins from my clients,to enable me buy food for my kids. The feeling of knowing that my family will have something to take for supper always sums up the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I lost my father who was the only person paying my school fees when I was in my third form and I had to drop out of school.This led to premature end to my dream of one day becoming an accountant.After dropping out of school,I have had to endure the challenges that life has brought to me.Being a single parent, and no job to provide me with a regular source of income, I have been solely depending on casual job to survive.Fending for my kids and myself is the hardest thing that I have always struggled with.
