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
55000 KES ($455 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?
I do not have any new goals now. My main focus is to save money from my small business of selling second-hand clothes to pay fees for my children in various schools. I have two children in the university and two in high school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Since the money is unconditional some people invested in dairy-keeping projects which enabled them to cut the daily cost of buying milk. The majority used to live in small houses but currently, they have built better and more spacious houses. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 50,000 to pay fees for my four children in various schools. I have two children in the university and two in high school. It is a dream of every parent is to ensure that their children get the best education. I rely on a small-scale business of selling second-hand clothes and my spouse is a driver. We combine our income to pay the school fees for our children. Since we could not pay all at once, at some point they would be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affecting their performance. I was not very happy to see them staying at home while others were studying. Currently, they are studying well without being disturbed since I have paid all the school fees. I wish to see a better performance this academic year. The remaining amount of money I spent on purchasing one sack of maize to feed my family. This is because I did not have much in store at that time for the family. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has enabled us to achieve our dream.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($471 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 around 8 am, I was taking my breakfast when my neighbor called me to say that she had received the money from GiveDirectly. I immediately checked my phone and there was a message confirming that I have also received the transfer from GiveDirectly.I felt so happy and grateful. My spouse and children were so happy and grateful too. I stayed for one week before I went and withdrew the transfer. We were still planning on how to spend it well. We are so happy because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Paying the school fees for my children in secondary school is the biggest difference in my daily life. This was our main priority since we wanted to ensure that they are not sent home to collect the school fees like before. This was wasting much of their time and it affected their performance. We depend on small-scale farming and small business. We were not able to pay all the school fees and this was so demoralizing and stressful. I was not happy to see my children at home while others were studying. When I received the transfer I felt so happy and we decided as a family to invest in educating our children. We paid for the whole academic year and this has given us peace of mind to conduct our daily activities without being stressed like before. I am so grateful for the support because were it not GiveDirectly this could have been so hard for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend KES 46,000 on paying school fees for my two children in secondary school. This was the main big challenge that we were facing. We were to pay for the whole academic year and our children have peace of mind to study well without being sent home to collect the school fees like before. For the rest of the money, I bought food and household items that we were lacking. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled me to educate my children.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a mother of six who are currently in various colleges and schools. I am a second-hand clothes businesswoman operating within different markets in my locality. I love this job since it has enabled me to provide for our daily and children's education. I earn an average of KES 300 which I usually save to pay my children's school fees. I struggle to see them get an education so that they would have better lives in the future. I intend to spend KES 48000 to settle arrears and the next term fee. This will be my happiness knowing that I have ample time to focus on the coming terms. My children will have a good time to study thus achieve good grades that can take them further to colleges. I foresee a better in my family with my children's education which is my hope and strength to work hard.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My biggest ambition is to have a successful family. I wake each day knowing that I have children to build their future. I have a passion for education has seen different people of my age have better lives out of the education they acquired. In the last six months, my greatest joy has been from the ample time and smooth combination of my children's education. Even though, I did not clear their fee on time I am grateful that each one ended their academic year well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food shortage is my major challenge. I own a 1.3-acre piece of land where I have a home state and a section of farming. I practice mixed farming to enhance our production. I currently own cows that can not be lactating throughout the year. Maize production has not been doing well due to unfavorable weather conditions and the maize disease. This causes food shortages every year in our family.
