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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly has done exceptionally. Through cash donations, the less fortunate like myself have gotten the opportunity to better our lives. Now I have plans of building a new house. I also have funds to feed and educate my children. I have not seen anywhere give directly has done badly
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I depend on my husband, who works as a teacher, for financial support. To boost our finances, I would engage myself in charcoal manufacturing to enable us to provide for our 10 children. The week before I got my transfer, we had run out of food in the house. So, we would end up buying some on credit. The current accrued debt is KES 2000. When I got the cash, I used KES 1000 on food. The amount that remained, I saved in the merry-go-round. This is so I could get enough funds that would help support the stone house construction I plan on doing. The one I presently live in is a spoilt and unstable mud house. I fear it will soon crumble and fall.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was ever in constant fear of seeing my children sent home due to the school fee arrears. So, on this day, as I was distracting myself through doing some laundry, I got a message confirming that I had received funds from give directly. I was very ecstatic. The next day, I hurried to my children's school to reduce the fee arrears.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am yet to see any big difference as it is my first transfer. Maybe on my next transfers, I will be able to transform my life and that of my family for the better
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
During registration to the give directly program, I did not have a mobile phone. So. I got one from the organization. When the transfers came in, they were reduced to KES1,200. KES200 from which, I used to purchase food for my family. The remaining KES1,000, I used to reduce my seven children's school fee arrears of KES2000. With the little we make from our jobs as a charcoal manufacturer and my husband as a teacher, we made efforts to clear the rest of the arrears.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always believed that education is the only key to success. I have been struggling to educate my children because of lack of a sustainable income to cater for their school fees. I have been relying on charcoal burning occupation which is energy draining with low returns at the end. I manage to get a maximum of three 90kg bags of charcoal in a month. One bag sells at 800KES meaning I only make 2,400KES a month, an amount that can not sustain my family. Seeing my children home simply because I don't have money to pay their school fees is very painful. I am planning to use the entire GiveDirectly transfer to pay school fees for my children. This will assure my children of enough study time in school which will translate to improved academic performance.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On normal days, all my children are in school and I only reunite with them on sundays. This always brings joy to my life because we laugh a lot together during meals and family gatherings.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge I am currently facing is the inability to cater for my children school fees. My children are always home now and then because I am unable to pay their school fees. Sometimes they spend a whole week at home until I get money. The bitter part of this all is that this has had a negative impact on their academic performance and their performance is now poor.
