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 ($491 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer. This is because I now have some assets that I can depend on in case of emergency. This is because I can easily convert the goats I bought to cash. In addition, I also have seats that one can sit on comfortably and my family were also able to feed well despite the hard economic times we were facing as a result of Covid-19 outbreak.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, GiveDirectly does well by giving out unconditional transfer and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfers, I decided to spend them on the household necessities that I did not have. Due to this, I spent around KES 10,000 on two sets of seats and beddings. Also, I bought three goats at KES 12000 as a way of saving this money. I will be converting one to cash when faced with financial crisis. In addition, it's milk is so sweet especially when used to prepare tea. Also, I spent some amount on food, clothes and other household items. I bought one sack of maize, 25kg of rice, 3 litres of cooking oil. I still have KES 15,000 that I am planning to use when faced with an emergency.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the Mpesa notification message around eight forty in the morning. I was very excited and immediately ran to my helpers house and he confirmed that I had received the money. There and then, I started ululating because I had heard a neighbor celebrating loudly after receiving her transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am financially stress free because from the GD transfers I can choose whatever I want to eat at any time.Before I used to struggle to get money but now I am more relaxed. The transfers have also enabled own a dairy cow which I couldn't afford before. This will boost milk production hence adequate food for my family. I also can choose which clothes to wear because I bought two pairs but before I used to rely on one which I had worn a long time till my neighbors could easily identify me from a far. My body weight has gradually increased l because I now eat a balanced and I don't struggle as I used to.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent 350USD of my transfer on dairy cow because it will act as a source of milk and income for my family. I spent 40USD on maize meal as source of food for my family. I also spent 15 USD on maize seeds because it's planting season and will act food security for my family in the next season. I spent 40USD on clothing and shoes because I used to have only a pair of clothes for occasions and from a distance one could easily identify me by my clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since I am a widow, getting old and unable to fend for the family, I have been aspiring to add the number to dairy cows to two. My husband passed on 17 years ago leaving me to fend for the family single handedly which has been an uphill task. My intention therefore is to use Kenya Shillings 50,000 of my first transfer to buy a dairy cow for both domestic use and as a source of income. Receiving this money mean I will be financially stable.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. This is because I spend almost of the entire day looking after my cow and at times work in my 1 acre piece of land where I have grown maize for domestic use. Since I am getting old, I stay with my grandson who helps me with household chores and gives me company mostly in the evening. Chatting with him in the evening as we prepare dinner rejuvenates my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is inadequacy of funds to cater for the family. This is because since the demise of my husband 17 years ago, I used almost every coin at the disposal of education expenses of my children. I sold almost everything including cows in order to educate my 4 children leaving me literally with nothing to depend on. Getting this transfer from Give Directly will be a relief in my life.
