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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Early that morning I was unwell and I had gone to the hospital. On my way back home I heard my phone vibrate. Upon checking, it was a confirmation of my first transfer. I was so happy and grateful and immediately called my elder son who is my helper and informed him about it and he was so excited. We withdrew part of the transfer to purchase a dairy cow the same day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life the huge investment on dairy cow which has provided us with adequate milk and also clearance of school fees for my son.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Being a widower and a mother of six life has not been easy
in providing for my family. On receiving my first transfer, I spent KES 40,000 on purchasing a dairy cow since livestock has been our main source of livelihood in our village. The cow I had reduced its milk production since it had been affected by a lack of food due to the dry season. I am happy that with the addition of this one there will be an increase in milk production and hence the ability to provide for my family henceforth. I also spent the remaining part of my transfer on paying school fees for my son who is in secondary school. I relieved my son who had taken responsibility over the years for paying the school fees since he also provides for his family. I am grateful for this support from Givedirectly that has improved my standard of living.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My kitchen was demolished 2 years ago after the sudden death of my lovely husband.This cultural belief has left me without a kitchen thus the struggles to use a part of my main house as a kitchen.I am displeased with this because there is no privacy in my kitchen more so when there are guests.I am pleased that with these transfers I will be able to put up a new and separate kitchen that will give me privacy and comfort.I will accomplish this with KES 40000 and the remaining amount will be spent on school fees for my 3 children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The relationship between my children and I has brought happiness into my life.For the past 5 months,I have received substantial support of KES 50000 from my first born in aid of school fee payment.I am happy because despite my financial limitations my other children have had ample time to study .
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widow with 5 children in various institutions.Payment of school fees for all of them is a great challenge to me especially now that am the breadwinner with no reasonable income.I am a small scale dairy farmer but recently one of my well-producing cow died due to an infectious disease.As a result, the earnings I get from the dairy products have tremendously reduced to KES 5000 per month from KES 8500. This amount is insufficient to meet the school fee requirement for my children hence huge debt in schools.
