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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly has done very well. The transfers have helped me in building a new home for my family and I. Before, my children could sleep on sacs and due to this cold, they often fell sick. To offer the best services, give directly needs to improve the hotline number services. I had a bad when I called. Despite it being within the stipulated working hours, I still got a busy alert when I called.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have seven children, 3 are in primary school, 3 in kindergarten and the other one dropped out of school due to health conditions (asthma). When I got the cash, the first thing I did was to buy some clothes for them to replace the torn ones they had. Other than this, we had been sleeping outside for a while after our house collapsed. I then used the remaining KES 2000 to put up a grass thatched house. I plan on improving it once I self employ myself through poultry farming using my next transfers.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy in the farm that early morning as normal, when I received the money from GiveDirectly. It was such a huge blessing for my family and I especially since the only job I have that helps me provide is subsistence farming and burning wood for charcoal which has deteriorated extremely since there are barely any trees anymore to chop wood from. I was most definitely happy because I got money that day and yet I had not anticipated for it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Paying fees for my children is my of my biggest achievements if I am being honest, and with this money I plan on doing it gradually with every transfer I get so that my kids could stay in school and progress with their education. Apart from that, the funds helped me provide a meal for my family, because at times we go hungry for days. Hunger for an adult is extreme to handle, so you can imagine when the entire family including the kids go hungry for days and they weep but there is nothing I can do. It leaves me disoriented and devastated. That is why this funds and program mean a lot to me because now the suffering is not as how it was before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the money I decided to prioritise more on the education of kids because I had not fully paid the tuition fee and I knew that they could probably get sent home anytime, so I was scared about that. Therefore when I received the money I went ahead and took KES 500 and paid a portion of the school fees for three of my children. This would help me buy more time to look for more funds while I kept the school administration at bay. I then went ahead and used KES 400 and purchased timber because I wanted to renovate my house because it looked like it was about to collapse since it was leaning on the side of the house due to heavy rainfall and considering it was a mud house I was scared it would fall anytime and leave my family and I homeless. Then what was left which was KES 300, I used it to buy three packets of maize flour for nutrition of my family since we had no meal in the house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house is falling apart and it already has a big hole at the back. Termites have eaten up the wood that supports it. I would like to build a two-roomed house for my family. I have six children who live with me. It is sad that at night they have to sleep on the floor and are exposed to so much cold and dust.
I will be saving the transfer I receive for about six months and later start construction. Once my house is done I will buy some house furniture and clothing for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I thank God for the gift of life, I am happy when I see my family healthy and whole. The lack of proper housing is a major risk to my children. I rejoice when I see them playing around and going to school daily and the trips to the doctor are less.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I work as a casual laborer, people call me to plow their farms as they prepare for the planting seasons. This season has been very challenging since we have not had rains for the past year. This has affected my productivity. My earnings have deteriorated and providing for my family has been a challenge. Money to buy water, food, and pay school fees are my main concern.
