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 ($531 USD)
access_time 5 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 it was before I received my transfers because I currently own a kitchen. I spent part of the second transfer to build a spacious kitchen where my sons spend their night. Prior to being enrolled in GiveDirectly's program, they were spending in our small one-bedroomed main house. Secondly, I managed to buy a solar and we currently get adequate lighting system.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly's does well in helping needy people in the society thus lifting up their living standard. The community members who succeed to be enrolled in the program always use their transfers to undertake new projects which positively transform their lives. There is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on ploughing one and a half acre piece of land. Currently, I have planted sugarcane, maize, and beans in it and they are doing well. From farming, I shall be able to get more farm produce which I shall sell some to generate additional income for my household. My sugarcane will also be ready for harvest next year and from them, I shall also get additional income. Lastly, I spent the rest of the transfers to buy one and a half sacks of maize grains for my household consumption. My family has therefore been feeding well unlike before when I had to fully rely on casual jobs to provide for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time over 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 no longer budget for kerosene on a daily basis whih was so expensive. This is because I bought a solar lump for lighting thus the money I used to spend on kerosene I now use on meeting other household needs.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was an early morning when I was woken up by a vibration from my phone. When I checked the phone I was amazed to find out that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I immediately woke up my spouse, shared the news wiht her and she was happy too.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I have constructed a kitchen with a portion of money I received from GiveDirectly which acts as both a cooking place and a sleeping room for my children. This is because previously we could squeeze in the small house I had which was too small for us. At the same time, we used to cook in the same house which was risky because of the smoke emitted which is a health hazard. In addition to that, previously I used lantern lump for lighting which was expensive interms of purchasing paraffin daily and to add to it the smoke it emitted affected our eyes. So I bought a solar lamp wit a portion of the money.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me to buy cement and pay mason to plaster both floor and walls that I fear would fall off during the long rains. I will be plastering the house because the dusty floor is breading ground for the jiggers which is very expensive to erradicate once it attacks the little children, quite a number of the children ended up dropping out of school due to jigger menace in oir village. I intend to use the second transfer to improve my farming so that I may prodice more food to my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is usually in the evening having gotten food from the farm and able to see my family assemble together for the meals. It is during this time that we teach our children on family values on the importance of hardwork and sharing.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship has been inability to raise enough money to pay fees and feed my children. You find that anytime I got money to invest in farming I ended up paying school fees with it leaving my family with no money to buy food, or whenever I got good yield in the farms, I ended up selling them to get money for school fees.
