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 ($492 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 if I never received the transfers in that I have paid school fees for my daughter who is in the university. I do small scale farming and the harvest that I get is so small and only for consumption. I used to struggle doing the casual jobs in the village to earn an income to pay the school fees. My daughter was almost defering her studies because there was no money for school fees. When I received the second transfer I felt so overwhelmed with joy, I knew my daughter would complete her studies. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has enabled her to clear school fees. She will graduate next year. She is so happy and promised to work hard in school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build better houses and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend part of the money I received from GiveDirectly on purchasing aHeifer.This will enable me to get enough milk for my family when it reproduced. I also paid school fees for my daughter who is in the university. The rest of the money I completed the construction of a house that I started using the previous transfer. I am so happy because I was in a position to achieve what I had always wished to do on time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfers, I was overwhelmed with joy and I could not help but jump up and down. I ate the best diet that day, I drank thick tea and bought meat.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that my son who used to rely on other students accommodation in campus is now living independently. I am also happy because my kid's fees who are in secondary school catered for. I used to get stressed up when it came to school reopening on because maize farming was my only income source.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 23,000 on a 18 Iron roofed house for my son, KES 16000 on my accommodation and fees for my daughter in campus. KES 15,000 I have saved as school fees for my kids in secondary school and KES 3000 on three maize sacks, and others on clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to pay school fees for my kids, buy dairy cattle and renovate my house.I intend to use 500USD to pay school fees for my three kids who are in secondary education while one is in tertiary level. I will then use another 250USD to buy one dairy cattle to supplement my family with milk products as I already have one that produces very little milk. Lastly, I will use the remaining balance from the transfer to renovate my house by replacing old worn out iron sheets and improve on the household furnitures.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After I am done with my household chores, I head to my farm to carry out farming activities like weeding, transplanting, tilling and watering the existing crops. I usually grow maize, beans and sweet potatoes on my farm. The happiest part of my day is in the evening as I water them with the help of my kids as we crack jokes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I lost my husband in 2006 through diabetes and left me with five kids look after and also act as their father. I have since been solely providing for them with no regular source of income. I had to take them to public school in order to be able to pay for their school unlike before when they used to attend private school when my husband was still alive. Luckily enough they are schooling well though it is taking a toil in me to pay for their school fees.
