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
53150 KES ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After receiving both my transfer, I spent it on all the plans that I had, I do not have any new goals at the moment.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly did well by giving us unconditional cash transfer hence we had the freedom on what to spend on. I don't have any complaints.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving my second transfer, I bought a dairy cow worth KES 42,500 which is an addition to my livestock. I am happy that it is about to calf and once I get surplus milk will sell it to earn income which I will save towards the payment of school fees for my children. With KES 2,250 I bought a mattress and a study table for my son who is in secondary school. He is now studying when at home and also sleeping peacefully. With the remaining amount, I used in buying foodstuff for my family members.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9:00 Pm when I realized that I had received a message from GiveDirectly bearing the good news of the receipt of my first transfer. At that moment I had just got home from the nearby shopping center where I had taken a walk to. It was so exciting receiving this information with my family at home that we had to celebrate and had a long talk before taking our dinner late that night. In my mind, it was a relief in that I had a plan to clear all the school fees arrears and the current fees that I was yet to pay for my two children in secondary school. I could not wait for the next day to make that transaction directly to the school before picking any other project.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Paying all the arrears and the current school fees that I was still obligated to pay has been the biggest difference in my daily life. In the past few years since our children joined their secondary school level, it has never been easy meeting the deadlines in school fees payments. This is because I was fully dependent on farming that was never consistent in productivity. I am glad and grateful that GiveDirectly came in when I needed a helping hand.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving the first transfer, all that we needed to spend on was already set after several sittings and discussions with my household. School fees clearance for our two children currently in secondary school had been a major obligation to meet in the past few years and this money came right when the arrears had started piling and could not let it keep piling but to clear it once and for all. Both the livestock and the subsistence farming that I had been dependent on were all drying up at that moment. This left us with the only option of spending a huge portion of the transfer on settling the school fees. In total, I paid KES 20000 to cover both the current term and the arrears that I had. My children are currently enjoying ample study time without being sent home at all. With the remaining amount, I spent KES 10000 on clothing for my three sons and a daughter, obtained a mattress for my daughter worth KES 1500 to replace the ragged one that she had been using every time she was out of school, I also bought foodstuff in form of dry maize grains for the household at KES 2750, added some pieces of furniture at a sum of KES 5000, and used the remaining KE S5000 on paying part of my wife's dowry to my mother in law. I am grateful for all that has transpired in the past few weeks after receiving the first transfer and hoping to do more with the second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a break through to financial in my life. I have a family of 6 children and all are in school. I work for a security company in Bomet town and earn an average of KES.7000 per month. After paying the expenses like food and rental services fee, I only remain with KES. 3000 to take home. This amount is not enough to pay for school fees and meet other basic needs at home. Today i am so thrilled beyond words with this transfers from Givedirectly. I therefore intend to be residing from home this means I will buy a second hand motorcycle to ease my transport cost at KES. 60,000.The remaining amount will go for school fees balance which is KES.40,000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In my home we only had one source of light at night which was Kerosene lamp. We could sometimes eat in darkness because of financial preclusion to buy kerosene. Its now almost 3 months ago,when a last mile project for electricity installation was launched in the village.I could not hide my joy when I got the power in my house. My children can now use the lighting for studying.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
One major challenge that I currently face is financial constraints. Being a father in my house and baring all the responsibilities has been a tall order to me. What I earn in a security company is not enough to cater for the basic needs of my family. The average amount of KES. 3000 in a month for me is not enough. I have children who are in school and need to pay the school fees balance of KES.40,000 to enable them get settled and study.
