Larry Madowo, the esteemed CNN journalist, is unveiling a groundbreaking documentary titled ‘Free Money’ after dedicating five years to its production.
This thought-provoking documentary, now available for streaming on Netflix, delves into the profound effects of a US nonprofit organization, ‘GiveDirectly,’ which allocates funds to a village in Nyanza, Kenya, every month with the aim of improving the living standards of the local impoverished population.
The ‘Free Money’ documentary examines the psychological, social, and economic consequences of transforming an entire Kenyan village into recipients of regular cash transfers, offering a unique perspective on the dynamics of providing unconditional financial assistance.
GiveDirectly’s mission, as stated on their website, is to allow donors to “send money directly to people in poverty with no strings attached,” emphasizing the importance of empowering individuals living in poverty to make choices that enhance their lives.
The documentary scrutinizes the positive and negative societal impacts of this unconventional approach.
Larry Madowo took to Twitter to announce the Netflix release of ‘Free Money,’ raising thought-provoking questions about the ethical implications of an American NGO conducting a cash experiment on impoverished Africans.
His tweet read, “Is it OK for an American NGO to run a cash experiment on poor Africans? Our documentary ‘Free Money,’ filmed over 5 years, launches on Netflix today! See what happens when everyone in a Kenyan village receives free cash every month.”
In the documentary’s trailer, a GiveDirectly employee communicates with villagers in the ‘dholuo’ language, informing them of the $22 (approximately Sh3,000) they will receive each month for a year.
The experiment, rooted in the concept of ‘universal basic income,’ has sparked debates among critics and media analysts, who question the wisdom of providing free monthly cash to individuals solely based on their economic status.
Despite the controversy, the documentary captures the villagers’ enthusiastic response to the initiative, portraying a vibrant community invigorated by the regular influx of funds into their mobile banking accounts. One villager even jests, “In fact, we don’t refer to God anymore; we refer to GiveDirectly!”
‘Free Money,’ directed by the acclaimed filmmaker Lauren DeFilippo, premiered to critical acclaim at the Toronto International Film Festival.
However, it’s worth noting that GiveDirectly faced challenges in June 2023, when it suspended its operations in the Democratic Republic of the Congo due to an alleged large-scale fraud totaling at least $900,000 (approximately Sh130 million), involving staff members and former employees who stole SIM cards meant for mobile money transfers to impoverished households.
This scandal had a significant impact on over 1,700 families in DRC’s South Kivu province, tarnishing the organization’s reputation.
