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
53150 KES ($462 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?
With the receipt of both transfers from Givedirectly, my household has seen a huge transformation. My goal right now is to purchase a dairy cow and sheep so that I can start zero-grazing because of the small piece of land which I have. We have joined a savings Sacco with my wife so that we can save towards achieving our plans of dairy farming.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly did well by giving every household unconditional cash and giving us the freedom to choose how to spend. I do not have any complaints.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receipt of my second transfer, I chose on clearing the school fees balance of KES 40,000 for my son who is at the University. Due to financial constraints, I was not able to pay on time. I appreciate the fact that he has already finished his studies and doing his business as he is job searching. The remaining amount, I spent on buying food for my household members.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was quite a great excitement for me the moment I received my first transfer. I was out attending to my cows when I received a notification that held me on the spot for more than ten mins as I read and trying to verify the authenticity of the information contained in it. My wife wasn't home too as she had moved out to the casual work she had been doing in her neighborhood. I had to calm my nerves till she came back as she had, moved out that morning leaving her phone behind. We both celebrated later, thanked God, and made affirmed the initial plans we had. We are glad that we won't be applying for a loan this time as we have always done whenever we are taking our children to the new schools.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the great commitment to finally let my son start his degree course with the only money we received. My son was really happy to hear that decision, and we are hopeful that we will be able to keep him in school once he joins. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the great support they promised and finally made it happen to us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
School fees payment for my children had been the most challenging task I have had over many years. With a family of five, I still have three sons actively schooling at the moment. I am glad that my elder son is currently able to pay part of his school fees as he secured a job and had been studying over the holidays. My second son has been home since 2019 when he completed his diploma course due to the lack of finances that could have enabled him to commence his degree level. With this transfer, I decided to put aside KES50000 to pay his school fees as he now has an admission letter to the Kenya Medical training college. he has been patient enough and this moment should not pass him. With the remaining KES4700, I managed to obtain household foodstuff and new clothing for my younger children.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Being a retired teacher,i have always wanted good education for my children because i know if they get university education ,their lives will be better.One of my sons has been at home for a year because he discontinued his university education for lack of school fees. I earn a living through sell of milk which i get ksh 4500 per month from selling 5 litres of milk at ksh 30 per litre and also earn ksh10,000 per month from tree nursery that i am maintaining. This money is not enough to cater for family needs as clothing,food and especially school fees. Getting this transfer would mean my son in university will graduate upon paying part of the arrears with ksh 110,000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in mid-morning at around 10 A.m. After milking and feeding my two dairy cows,this is the time when i sit down to take breakfast as i watch my favourite program in the television which makes me feel relaxed.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
After teaching for the longest time,i went on retirement seven years ago and my children were still young and in school.i had not invested enough and now i am still struggling to get enough money to pay for their school fees.Two of my sons are still in university and tertiary college and their school fees totals upto Ksh 180,000 per year.I get stressed up when i see them staying at home for lack of school fees because it means they lag behind in schooling.
