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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was just from the nearest posho mill at around 6 pm when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is a sense of relief since I cleared the school arrears of my kids using the transfers. I am also grateful because we now have adequate food for my family which we couldn't afford before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly, I used to rely on maize farming and beans to pay school fees. But this was not enough because my kids have been in and out of school due to lots of school fees arrears. Therefore when I received the transfers, I spent KES 40,000 on school fees payment for my kids in high school.
Secondly, I spent KES 6000 on two bags of maize. This will sustain my family until I get the transfers. KES 8,000 was also used in the latest clothing fashion. This has made my family decently dressed than before when we used to rely on second-hand clothes.
Lastly, I spent KES 3000 on plowing the land in preparation for planting bean seeds. This will ensure the availability of adequate food for my family come next harvest season.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means quality education for my children.My children go to day school at their primary level and my prayer has been for them to join a secondary boarding school.This will give them adequate time for studies thus achievement of good grades.This amount will enable me pay form one school fees for my child in a standard 8.Admission to good secondary school requires KES 50000 and this transfers will facilitate it.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The calving of my two cows in the past 6 months has brought happiness in my life.This is because my family has acquired milk which is a nutritional source of protein.We also sell 4 litres of milk at a cost of KES 50,this enable us to buy maize flour daily.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints is the biggest challenge am currently facing . Farming which is our main economic activity has been affected by prolonged period of drought and pests attack.As a result we have had minimal to no incomes in the past 5 years.This situation has put us in a phase of financial instability and hunger in our household.Because of lack of food my family has faced incidence of mulnutrition.
