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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($446 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
This year, one of my major goals is to do more farming and sell surplus produce in the nearby market. This will be of help since I will be able to support my husband in sorting some of the minor bills.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly's help was genuine and the enrollment process was fair to the point that nobody needed to pay anything to the staff to be selected. I have nothing against the project, but I would be grateful if we could get an addition to help with the high cost of living.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I currently have two children, one in the university and the other one in secondary school, and paying their school fees has been a significant challenge. When I received the second transfer, I spent $450 clearing their arrears so they could attend the remaining lessons in the term. My husband is a retired headmaster and we have been surviving on his pension which is not always sufficient to cater to the family’s basic needs. The remaining amount of $100, I used to purchase foodstuff to last us for a month since what we had in store was depleted.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($478 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the evening when I was at home relaxing after a day's work when I got a message that I had received money from Give Directly. As much as we were promised by the Give Directly officers that it would be sent but I did not expect it that soon. This was one of my best evenings. I immediately shared the news with my spouse who was equally happy. He thanked God to bless Give Directly for the support.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The house I had during enrollment was in a bad in a bad state. It was built over thirty years ago and most of the materials were broken. The roof was leaking while most parts of the wall had fallen off. In most cases, I would not get enough sleep especially during the rainy season for fear of the house falling on us. I am glad and proud this is not the case anymore because I was able to renovate it with the first transfer. It is currently the talk of the village on how transformed it is which makes me proud.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When the Give directly officers came to enroll us, some of my goals were to renovate my house and pay for my children's school fees. I am happy I was able to meet one of the goals which are renovating my house. When I received the first transfer I used it to purchase the building materials that were required for the renovation. Since most of the materials were to be replaced, I ended up spending the whole of the transfer and even added some of my savings to aid in the renovation process. The house is currently as good as new.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband is blind, his blindness cannot allow him to work, therefore, it leaves me as the breadwinner. I have been depending on casual labor and sometimes burns charcoal to earn a living. The casual jobs and my charcoal business sometimes give me KES 500 per day which is not enough to pay school fees for my two children in college and one in high school at the same time buy food for the family. I had to start depending on my daughter who is a household to assist me with other responsibilities. My dream has always been to buy a new iron sheet for my house that leaks during rainy seasons, but due to the huge responsibilities, I have not been able to do so. I plan to use KES 20,000 to buy an iron sheet and start the repair of the house, KES 20,000 and KES 10,000 pay school fees for my children in college and high school respectively, and buy food with the remaining KES 5000. These transfers will therefore enable me to repair the house and also pay school fees for my children so that I can ease the burden I have put on my daughter.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When we started receiving rain after a long time of dry spell brought happiness and joy to me because we had lost livestock and crops as a result of the drought.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Because I am the breadwinner, with too many responsibilities of taking care of my blind husband at the same time paying school fees for my children in college and high school as well as buying food for my family are the challenges I currently face.
