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 ($460 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?
My main focus at the moment is for me to be able to see my children through school before focussing on other projects. GiveDirectly has uplifted our lives positively thus we are grateful.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has impacted the lives of our people amazingly. Our economic status changed to a higher level. Our children are in school and finally, we have good houses around the village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer from GiveDirectly came at the right time of need. This is because I needed to take my son to school yet I did not have enough resources. Upon receiving my transfer, l opted to pay school fees of KES 48,000 for my Son who was supposed to join a higher institution. I have eight children hence school fees have been my major challenge since I depend on a casual job which is not reliable. I had sold all my cows before to raise the fees yet it was not enough. I am so thankful for the transfer that came as a relief in my life.
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?
I was sleeping when I heard my phone vibrating and upon checking it, my heart was filled with joy as it dawned on me that GiveDirectly is indeed a genuine organization that honors its promise. Since my wife was fast asleep, I did not want to disturb her and I waited until morning hours so that I would inform her about the good news. I slept well on that day knowing we had been relieved with the stress of paying school fees.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The coming of GiveDirectly renewed my strength to push on in life and it made me believe that there are indeed some genuine organizations out there. This is because apart from being able to pay school fees for my children using part of the transfer, I get to feed well. This alone gives me the strength to work hard every day unlike before when it was at times difficult to concentrate on some work due to hunger.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a carpenter and I usually work from one shopping center to another looking for some work to do since I do not have a workshop. I have nine children and four are in primary level, two are in secondary, one is yet to join a tertiary institution and two have not started school. Providing basic needs and paying their school fees on time had taken a toll on me despite receiving support from my wife who runs the dairy project. This is because, with the prolonged period of drought we recently experienced, milk production had dropped since our cattle had no feeds. When I received my transfer, I spent KES 30000 to pay school fees for the two children in secondary school since I had received a message indicating that they would be sent back home if I do not pay their school fees in a week time and three days had already elapsed. Also, I spent KES 6000 to purchase two three-seater seats and KES KES 18000 on food and clothes.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my firstborn daughter will join college and I will also be able to start my carpentry workshop. We have been a worried lot as a family because our firstborn finished her high school studies early this year and we could not afford to pay KES.50,000 that is required for her to join college. We encouraged her to work hard throughout her high school studies with the promise of taking her to college if she excels. For sure she got a passing grade and the debt now is on my side as the parent to fulfill my promise of taking her to college once she excels in high school. I am glad I shall be fulfilling this promise courtesy of GiveDirectly.
I am a carpenter also and I wish to have my workshop because that way I will be able to make more money from my skills. I currently do carpentry casual jobs which pays me about KES. 700 and since I have a large family of nine children most of it goes to pay food and school fees, it is never enough. If I had a workshop my earnings would be approximately KES. 1500 daily which is much better than what am currently getting.
What is the happiest part of your day?
GiveDirectly started operations in the nearby village some 5 months ago and when the first transfers got to the people you enrolled I benefitted indirectly because I got so many orders for furniture and this has been continuing since then. The KES. 700 I told you that I currently make per day was initially KES.300 before you came near. This gave me a lot of happiness and am so grateful to you people for bringing a change on my earnings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My family is quite a huge one compared to what you will expect to find around here. We are eleven in the family and this means more food and more school fees. I have a challenge with paying school fees for these children. With the changing weather patterns also it's a big challenge for me who depends on rain to do farming. I have not been successful to harvest any crops for the past 4 years and that's what usually helps me to feed my family and pay school fees easily.
