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 ($435 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?
My second-born daughter completed her secondary education in 2020. She got a job at a hardware nearby and since then she has been working there. Recently she came to me and ask if I can provide $1000 to start her hardware business so that the profits can help out at home. she loves doing business and If we can save up, I can gladly help her venture into the business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is a well-organized establishment, the first meeting we have with them, they were so welcoming and kind. I appreciate everything they are doing and I wish that a lot of people have an opportunity to receive the transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before the transfer, I had a grocery shop where I sold vegetables such as pigweed, tomatoes, onions, and okra. Right now, I am at home taking care of my grandchild. My daughter has a son and when she was called for a job in the city she opted to leave her son behind until she can be able to settle down. I have eight children, two are in school, and six are over the age of eighteen. One child is in primary school and the other one is in high school. The one in high school pays $60 a term which has been a challenge and over the years I had accumulated $220 in debt. GiveDirectly money has enabled me to pay off the debts and even paid some $100 in advance for two terms. The rest of the transfer was spent on food. I can now concentrate on just paying school fees for my other children without straining myself.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($478 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very busy at home doing my households chores as a housewife. My phone was off charging in my house, I did not bother to switch it on until at about 3 pm when I had completed my daily work when I decided to switch it on. I could not believe it when I saw a Mpesa message showing that I had received my transfer. I called my helper to verify the account balance and I was very delighted when he told me that I had received the transfer. I immediately informed my husband who was away about the transfer. He was very happy and promised to return home for us to start planning on how to spend our aid.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am happy that my kids are continuing with their studies without being sent home frequently for fees unlike before. This has given me peace of mind something that I had lost for long period. In addition, I have a future investment in their education, with the livestock I will be able to sell them to cater to any financial shortcomings.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 to support the educational needs of my 4 children. One is in secondary school where he was required to pay a lot of fees since it had been long since I paid his fees, and the others are still in primary school. They had pending school fees which I was required to clear and the teachers had decided to send them home for school fees. This had brought a lot of stress into my life. Also, I used KES 20,000 to purchase 5 goats to boost the livestock rearing an activity that I had been depending on for our upkeep. This is also my future investment for my kids as I intend to sell them when they reproduce to further their studies. In addition, I also used KES 5000 to seek proper medical care for my child who had a high fever. I am happy that he is well at the moment and was able to recover fully. With the remaining amount, I bought sufficient food for the family of 6 members.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better education to my 4 children who are still in school, one in secondary school and 3 in primary school. I have fee arrears for the first child, she went to a national school and the fees are KES 90,000 per year. I will clear the balance to ease her learning because I believe education is the key to success. With the second transfer, this will be my time to invest, I will buy 5 goats and 10 chickens for rearing and sell them upon multiplying. I had started a grocery kiosk selling spinach, eggs, and vegetables but collapsed due to a lack of sustainable capital. I will venture into that business again, being sure customers are ready. I will save my profit at any Bank, and in the future, I can borrow a loan to sustain my business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In my village, most women meet on Saturday with an aim of saving money called "Chamas", where we save KES 50 and above per week. Every December we are able to calculate the amount you saved and be given. I was happy to go home with KE 15,600 which I had saved for the whole year. This brought joy to my life being able to save that amount and it helped me buy Christmas clothes for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
With the Covid-19 pandemic which hit our country made our economy overwhelming. My husband who was working in the hotel industry all of a sudden became jobless and the family was depending on him. We were not used to one meal per day but this had to be the routine of the day. I had to no option but do casual work in the neighborhood at a construction site. This was a tiresome job with less revenue of KES 500 per day to cater for all my needs( buy food, pay school fees). With the inflation rate being high this money can not sustain my family.
