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 ($525 USD)
access_time over 4 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 currently different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer. First, my daughter was able to clear her college fee arrears and was given her certificate. Due to this, she has been able to secure for herself a job. Also, I was able to practice farming for the first time. Over the past years, I did not have money to use in buying farm inputs and for farm preparation purposes hence I usually opt out to lease it to different people and I am glad that this was the opposite this season. I am now optimistic of a good harvest that will last us for some time.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did well by enrolling everyone in our village without having any discrimination and there is nothing that they did not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer, I bought a dairy cow and a calf. I settled on this as a way of expanding my dairy project. At the moment, the cow has calved thus my income from milk sales has increased. Also, I bought some decent clothes for my children and grandchildren that we can always wear when going to church or any social gatherings. I spent the remaining amount to buy two sacks of maize and other household necessities.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 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 am now a proud owner of a dairy cow. I never thought I would one day own one. I used to admire seeing them in well off homesteads and it never crossed my mind that I would own one this soon. When it reproduces, I will be supplying milk to our local cooler plant and use the money to pay for my children's school fees.
I now have hopes that my children will not drop out of school because I have the means of paying their school fees.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My heart was filled with so much joy when I realized that I had received my transfers. It was still early in the morning when I received the message notification from M-pesa indicating the debited amount. I could not sleep anymore as I waited for dawn so that I would start using the money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I bought a dairy cow. I believe it will soon reproduce and I will be able to sell milk to my neighbors. This will make me financially stable and taking care of my daily responsibilities will no longer be a problem. Apart from that, I also used some amount to hire a tractor to till my farm in preparation for the planting season. I used the remaining amount to buy some clothes for my family and cleared school fees arrears for my children. This will enable them to study well without any disturbances.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
After toiling to take my daughter through college, she has not made it to the list of graduation thanks to pending arrears in the institution. My plan is to spend the first transfer in clearing the bill to enable her pick her certificates for employment opportunities. I am going to invest the remaining amount in livestock for it is a store of wealth and source of income that will pardon me from repeat of such predicaments with the rest of my children in future. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for coming in on time to tip the scales.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My garden has been a major source of income for my children's education. At most times I would carry vegetables to school as payment in kind. Some of the small scale vegetables I cultivate include kales and cabbages. Beans too. I love to spend time in this farm and working there every morning is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My daughter who is a trained teacher has absconded her graduation that was slated for today at the Kipsigis Teachers College due to astronomic pending arrears. It broke my heart this morning to see my neighbors attending their children's graduation in the same institution. What's more, I hated to break the news to her that she wasn't going to graduate due my financial incapacity. My worry is condemning her to unemployment due to lack of academic certificates. This is the biggest hardship I am facing at the moment. Three of my other children are in primary school and to imagine that their future is uncertain makes my spirit direly resigned.
