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 much better following receipt of the transfer. This is because I nolonger engage in the tedious tasks of smearing and maintaining a mud-walled house. We used to purchase suitable soils from our neighbors, something that is now a forgotten practice. Also, our house looks more decent, something that strengthens our self-esteem.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by offering grants instead of loans. Many people could probably default it they were loans because the program targets the most needy in society. Overall, I find nothing that GiveDirectly doesn't do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent all the second transfer (53,000 shillings) on improving my house replacing a mud wall with timber. It has been my desire to have a better house that demands lower maintenance costs. The previous state of the house looked dull and dusty yet we could use lots of resources (energy, soil and funds) in maintaining it. Unfortunately, we couldn't afford to develop our house since the little gains we attain from our subsistence farming is barely enough to meet our basic needs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around five minutes past 1pm while relaxing outside my house when shouts of joy and laughter filled the atmosphere of our village an indication that my neighbors had received the GiveDirectly transfers. On checking my phone there was no Mpesa SMS yet but I waited for a fewer more minutes and there it came. I was very happy and was grateful to GiveDirectly and withdrew the money the following day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is clearance of school fees for my daughter. This is because I usually depend on dairy and vegetables farming for school fees but it's quite a struggle.I am also glad to have an additional heifer which will act as an alternative milk source whenever my dairy cow is on it's dry spell. Nowadays, I sleep and eat a balanced diet because the transfers enabled me buy adequate food Before, we used to sleep hungry at times due scarcity or no casual labor at all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 on a heifer because it will act as long term investment hence will aid in payment of school fees and as a gift to keep from GiveDirectly. I also spent KES 10,000 on payment of school fees for my daughter in her third year of high school. Initially, I relied on vegetable, beans and maize farming for school fees. I also spent 9,000 KES on latest expensive clothing fashion for my kids because before we could only afford second hand clothes. I also spent KES 3200 on a sack of maize meal because our region is marked by long dry spells. I have also saved the rest for starting a poultry project.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means reduced financial distress in my family. I usually buy 2 litres of milk for my family consumption at 60 shillings daily. Buying one dairy cow using $350 of my transfer will help reduce this burden. I will also use $300 to build a two-roomed iron-roofed house for my teenage sons whom I currently share my house, which is against our culture.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Whenever I wake up every morning, I plan and set my goals for the day. My happiness usually comes in the evening whenever I manage to achieve every goal that I had planned earlier.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Access to food security is the biggest hardship we face in this region due to prolonged drought resulting in land unproductivity. I struggle a lot providing food for my children. Most of the times, I engage in tedious casual jobs in people's farms to earn some income. The little $1 I earn daily is all spent on food, thus supporting other family needs is a struggle.
