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 ($464 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
If I had extra money I would really have loved to buy additional dairy cow. Currently we just have one cow and we are grateful to GiveDirectly because of it but I look forward to having an additional dairy cow that will se me and my family make extra income and change our living standards by a great extent.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well in giving us cash as a form of aid. This simply meant we were empowered to make decisions on our own and everyone spent the money in accordance to their pressing needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used all of my second transfer to build a new house for my family. We were living in a very small house that would often force us to welcome visitors from the outside. The moment we received the second transfer, my husband and I made a decision to build a new house without demolishing the initial one in order to create space for our five children and accord them the much needed comfort and privacy. I am happy that we are now living happily in our new house and that everyone is happier than we have ever been.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($492 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am. I was still at home taking breakfast. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I reluctantly check it out, I didn't know it was from GiveDirectly. I couldn't believe my eyes. I have never received such amount of money before. I immediately inform my family members. They were so happy and they really celebrated with joy. I knew I would be in a position to purchase a dairy cow and iron sheets. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards. I withdrew the money the same day and planned with my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased a dairy cow. This was always my wish but I didn't had the money to buy. Buying milk daily was so costly and very demanding. I depend on casual jobs and small scale farming. This gives me small money and I was not in a position to purchase a dairy cow since of the recurring daily basis needs. My children sometimes could not get milk and this was so demoralizing. I used to struggle so much to ensure that I have some money for milk. When I received money from GiveDirectly I felt relieved since I knew I would buy a cow. Currently I get milk for my children and I sell the surplus to earn an income to meet other basic needs. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards. I hope to improve this in the future and even own more than three dairy cows. This has motivated me and opened my mind on investing on daily farming. I am so happy for this support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 35,000 of the first transfer on purchasing a dairy cow. I used to buy milk daily and this was so costly for me. Currently I no longer stress up because I have milk for my children. I also purchased iron sheets and renovated the roof of my toilet. It's now looking decent. The rest of the money I spent on food and clothes for my children. I am so grateful for the support because were it not GiveDirectly this could not have happened. Our living standards has changed.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Up until January 2021, I have been purchasing milk for six years but then I got tired and borrowed a lactating cow from my brother to save on money and also my children to get enough milk for drinking. Receiving this money would boost me to buy 2 good breed of dairy cows at a total cost of KES 70,000 and will see my dream of owning a cow come to pass. My children will get enough milk for drinking which is very important for their growth and development, at the same time I will have extra milk to sell from which the proceeds I will use to support my husband to cater for school fees for our daughter who just joined secondary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On a usual day, I wake up to prepare breakfast, for my 3 school going children. Once they leave, I look after my cow while taking care of my 6 month old baby. I am always happy in the morning when see my children waking up healthy to go to school to learn because I love education.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints has been the biggest hardship in my life. My husband is the sole breadwinner and earns KES 250 per day from looking after a neighbours livestock while I am just a housewife. The money he gets is not enough to cater for all the basic needs of the family such as food, clothing and more so school fees for our daughter who just joined secondary school in August 2021. Seeing her staying at home for lack of school fees breaks my heart as I would want a better future for my children which is attainable through getting good education.
