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 ($444 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 I accomplished my initial goals, I developed an additional goal of starting a grocery business. Initially, I relied on rainfed agriculture which does not do well nowadays. Without a good harvest, I always tried to engage in casual jobs so that I can be able to supplement my household income. However, I was longing to start up and run my own business. I am grateful to GiveDirectly that as a result of its transfer, I have managed to develop a new goal which I shall pursue to implement.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly, in my opinion, does well in issuing unconditional cash transfers. This allows recipients to spend their transfer in any way they believe will benefit them. Furthermore, the practice of sending transfers via Mpesa increases our safety. We are vigilant due to the sensitization messages. Therefore, only a small proportion can be cheated by fraudsters. I also believe that though the hotline number, we can often stay in touch and provide prompt feedback to GiveDirectly. I have not yet observed what GiveDirectly does not do correctly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At the time I received my transfer, I was down financially. I could not pay my children's fee arrears. Therefore with the transfer, I spent KES 40,000 on clearing the arrears. At first, it was many struggles to pay fees since my children were always sent home. A situation that forced me to try to do several casual jobs to raise fees. I am so glad that my children can now learn comfortably with minimal disruption. For the rest of this year, I will not be struggling as much as I had in the past.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($483 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home relaxing with my husband and I was thinking out loud because I didn't know where I'll get money to pay school fees because my kids had been send home for school fees. I went to check to pick my phone from the shop where it was charging from and upon switching it on, an Mpesa message just popped and wow! I had received the transfers. I was so happy because I knew finally my children will be back to school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have tap water in my compound and I nolonger have to go to my neighbor to look for water every day. My children have peace of mind in school and nolonger have to be worried that they can be send home anytime like they were used to before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 39000 to pay school fees for my two children in high school who had been send home due to fees arrears. I also spent KES 15000 to draw pipped water to my compound. This is a goal I wanted to achieve long time ago because I used to fetch water from my neighbor who had tap water in his compound and everytime she would speak ill of me despite paying for the water. I'm now at peace that I nolonger have to wake up every morning to go to someone's compound to ask for water and my children can have a long stay in school and concentrate on their studies after clearing the bill.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband works in Nairobi as a carpenter. He does his best to pay school fees and provide for our needs. However, the money is barely enough for these. If I could start a grocery selling business with part of the transfers, the profit I get can help me run the house as he concentrates on our three children's education. We want our children to get to university level, we could look at it as making up for what their father and I did not achieve academically.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In my village, women have a small table banking scheme. I got some money in dividends from it and helped my husband to pay school fees at the beginning of this year.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a housewife. My husband provides for most of our needs but he struggles a lot. Our children's payments are delayed and sometimes, they stay at home. It breaks my heart when this happens but I cannot do much. A small business would help boost our income.
