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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($429 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I want to go to college and study mechanical engineering. It's been a lifelong interest of mine. I'd love to be able to make a living while doing something I enjoy. Finding a wife and having children will come naturally with the extra, stable income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
It was the ideal time in my life to receive a cash transfer. I was in a state of despair because my mother was ill and I didn't know where to find the funds to get her treatment; GiveDirectly was a light in the darkness. They are an organization that excels at providing hope!
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My mother has a lengthy medical history. Upon receiving the funds from GiveDirectly, my mom had to be admitted for about two weeks. She was in excruciating pain from the waist down and was unable to move at all. X-rays and scans were quickly taken and we were referred to a hospital in Kilifi. A possible lack of blood flow in her lower body was identified as the most likely cause. Needless to say, the funds from GiveDirectly came in handy when it came to paying for her treatment. We all try to be there for her, my two siblings and I, but with me living in Ganze and my mom being in Mtwapa, we are always hard-pressed to spend enough quality time together.My casual jobs pay between $3 and $5 per day, which could not have been enough to cover her bills, despite my saving, seeing as I don't have a wife or children. With the family farm's poor maize harvest, I had little for food, let alone for sale. The funds cushioned me from the hardest parts of the drought, and that, along with everything else they enabled me to cater for my mothers hospital bills, we are grateful for having GiveDirectly in our lives.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($480 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in my house getting ready for my daily activities. It was around 6:30 am when I checked my phone and realized that I had received my transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt extremely happy about receiving my transfer since I had eagerly waited for it from the day I was enrolled by the officers. The aid was to mark a great transformation in my life since I would solve most of my financial challenges.
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 living a stress-free life after helping my mother in getting proper medical care. Seeing her well makes me happy and restored my peace of mind. I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for the transfer. In addition, I will be able to accomplish my desire of enrolling myself in a mechanical engineering course.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 of my transfer to seek proper medical care for my mother who had been sick since the year started. She had a blood infection which rendered him unable to move. Currently, She is feeling well something that makes me happy and grateful. In addition, I am planning to use the remaining amount to enroll myself in a mechanical college at Mombasa. This is because I had desired to study a mechanical course but I lacked the finances. I am sure that my life will change greatly once I have the skills and experience.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I completed my primary school education in 2014 and passed my exam but due to financial instability, I did not get a chance to join secondary school. My ambition has been to take a course in mechanic and receiving this money means fulfilling my long time dream. I am planning to spend KES 55,000 to pay all the required school fees for the course. This will equip me with skills and I can employ myself and provide for my family needs such as food. Other than that, I will spend the remaining amount to construct a house because the one I am living in is small and almost collapsing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It was last month when I was issued a job which lasted for 30 days and I was able to earn KES 20,000. This brought a lot of happiness to my life because I used the cash to settle a debt which was stressing me a lot. Currently, I am living a stress free life. The owner used to call me almost every day asking for his money.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Securing a good job is the biggest challenge I am currently experiencing. I work as a charcoal vendor. The job is tiresome and earns me KES 450 in a week. This amount is not sufficient to fulfill all my needs such as school fees. This has inhibited me from joining secondary school.
