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.
Learn more about how recipients opt in to share their stories.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
A lot has happened ever since I started receiving the transfer but the fact that I managed to send back my children to school make the biggest difference in my life. Some of my children have not been going to school for weeks due to the school fees balances. This was stressing me as a parent and I felt I had failed them as a parent. I am now happy because they are all in school studying peacefully like the rest. To add to that, I now have a spacious house which I have always been dreaming to own for years. The previous one was very small with a leaky roof and during the rainy seasons, I never had peace at all. All I could do was seek shelter from my neighbors. After constructing my own house makes my life better because I no longer have to worry about the rains like before.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in sending the transfers direct to our phones. Secondly, we were given enough teachings on how best we would utilize the transfers. Also the act that me money was unconditional was the best of all. I do not see any sector that GD failed us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on paying school fees for my children who are both in college, secondary and primary schools. This has really been frustrating me for quite a long time because the balance was so huge and I had no idea where I would get the required fees for them to proceed with their studies since my spouse is jobless and we mostly depended on the well-wishers. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and other household items for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw a notification message on my mobile phone at around eight in the morning. I could not believe my eyes when I saw the amount of money that had been sent to me. I was overwhelmed with joy and I still thank them to date.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I now sleep under a spacious semipermanent well-plastered house. Previously my house was in a very bad state, it was almost falling because of the cracks of the walls. This was one of the worst conditions for my family especially in the winter seasons which were accompanied by the cold nights. And my children had contracted pneumonia due to that. This issue was really stressing me as their parents but I had no otherwise. I am now happy because we are sleeping comfortably in a better house courtesy of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some pieces of iron sheets, building poles, timber, and nails. This was for the construction of a new house since the old one was very small and in a poor state with a leaky roof, especially during winter seasons. I also bought some decent clothing for my children since the previous one were old and torn. With the remaining amount of money, I am using it in buying enough foodstuffs for my family,
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Schools are reopening soon and I have had worries on where I will get school fees. Receiving this money will come as a big relief for me. I will pay secondary school fees for two of my children and pay college fees for another. The remaining cash from school fees will go into buying food and other basic needs such as clothes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the morning hours doing house chores before heading to my farm. I come back during lunch hour then go back to the farm at around 4 pm in the evening. My activities are energy consuming and therefore every morning needs me to be strong and healthy. Morning is therefore the happiest part of my day especially when I am strong and healthy ready for the day's activities.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life. The hardest of all has been paying school fees for my children. My dream has always been to educate my children so that they can be successful and help me out in future. I did not attend school myself. I have 5 children;two in secondary school, one awaiting to join college and the rest in lower classes. I depend on agriculture to get money but it has not been doing well in this region due to prolonged drought.
