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 ($438 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal would be to look for a job. At the moment, my child is still young, which hinders me from tarmacking. I did a course in catering, hence it is my dream to get a stable job as a source of income to enable me to cater to my basic needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the support from GiveDirectly was of a great impact because it elevated us from extreme poverty. We are forever grateful for the unconditional support that mended our families and brought so much happiness to our lives. The organization does its work diligently, thus I have not seen any loophole in its line of work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a young single mother of one. Though at the moment I am unemployed, thus I depend on farming for my daily needs. My parents had agreed that we would pull our resources together for them to build a decent family house. This is because the one that they had was small but they were unable to build a bigger one due to financial constraints. Upon receiving my second transfer, I transferred $400 to my dad for him to expand the house. Then thereafter, I used the remaining amount on foodstuffs. I am relieved that finally, my parent's dream of owning a bigger house had been achieved in a short time. I am grateful for the support that has uplifted our living standards tremendously.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($462 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 very excited when I first received the transfer, as it brought hope of accomplishing a lot that my family had planned. I was at home preparing dinner when I received the message. We were going to use the mobile money transfer to settle my brother's school fees and meet other household needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is having cleared my brother's school fees. It has not been easy for my father to meet our needs considering that he does not earn much from the security work he does but still, he tries the much as he can to ensure we get the most basic needs. I know he has other goals to accomplish and now that he is relieved financially, he can concentrate on them.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My mother left us while we were still young after separating from my father leaving us under the care of our father. Being the sole breadwinner he works tirelessly to ensure we get all we need. He recently secured a job at a security firm in a nearby town leaving my younger siblings under my care as the firstborn in the family. At the time we received the money, my brother had stayed at home for a week due to school arrears of KES 10000 which I cleared with part of the first transfer and was later allowed in school. KES 17000 I used to purchase a cow for the family. It is expensive to spend KES 100 daily on milk considering that my father does earn much. We are hopeful that once it gives birth then we shall not budget for milk and even have a surplus for sale. KES 10000 I sent to my dad for his upkeep while the remaining KES 17500 we have been using for foodstuffs, detergents, and other daily household needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I dropped out of college where I was pursuing a Diploma course in Catering and hotel management in Kitale. This happened at the time my parents separated after family disputes. As the firstborn daughter, I was obligated to take care of my younger siblings since my father is also a way in Nairobi working as a security officer. Life took a different turn for the worse since then, it has been difficult for us, we are so broken and disintegrated and we have no peace at all. I am left to fend for my siblings which is not easy given that I do not have a stable income. I am so hopeless and feel that the world is so cruel. If there is someone who will breathe a sigh of relief from Give Directly transfers, it is me. I intend to use KES 40000 to pay my college fees arrears to enable me to resume my studies and use the rest of the money to buy a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We had planted beans on our farm here at home. Against all the odds of the vagaries of weather they did so well and we were able to harvest them last month. We harvested 2 bags of maize which we used to pay the school fees in kind for my sibling who is in Kiproroget day secondary school. It cleared the entire fee of KES 12000 and we were overjoyed about it. She is going on with her studies well without being sent home for fees, unlike the last term.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
There is nothing worse than living without a mother, we have been derived from motherly love. I have assumed all the parental duties though I was not adequately prepared for the role. We have been neglected and do not live a normal life like other children. We miss our mother a lot and it pains us, we are hoping against hope that one day she will come back to us. The burden of fending for my siblings has taken a toll on me, I need a shoulder to lean on which is not there.
