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 ($468 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Now that I have received all my transfers, I am planning to start a motorcycle taxi and a retail shop in the next two months.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly helps improves the living standards of people especially in our locality.GiveDirectly should consider supporting young adults in our area by funding their further education and starting businesses for them.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES20000 on payment of school fees for my siblings in high school and primary school. I also spent KES10000 on three sofa set seaters and tables because the previous ones were old and worn out and were bought over a decade ago. I also spent KES7000 on clothing and KES 5000 on food stuffs.
We normally rely on county development funds and well wishers to pay school fees because we are orphans.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($492 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home looking after my cattle when I heard my phone beep, at about 11 a.m. I checked my phone and was surprised to see that I had received KES 55,000. I was so happy because I have never received such a huge amount of money in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving this cash transfer has been a blessing because it has enabled me to meet my and my brother's needs. I am a high school student, who has just one school term to go. I, therefore, have no money to pay for my and my brother's fees, who is also in secondary school. However, this cash transfer has enabled me to do that. I am so glad that we now have a chance to complete our high school education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest time, my family has had to buy milk, at KES 40 a litre. This is too costly for us, especially since I have no source of income. So I was glad to spend KES 29,000 on the purchase of a dairy cow that could supply us with enough milk. I then spent KES 25,000 on paying secondary school fees for my brother and I, to ensure we could finish the school term without interruption.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean that the situation at our home will change. Our parents are deceased, five years to be exact. We were left with no one to look after us save for the help that we sometime get from the community and well wishers. Life is difficult and I can go a day or two without food since I am the only one left here when my other siblings go to school or look for work. I rely on my big brother who at times cannot provide for me since he is a student at University and does not have a job and struggling to find a balance in his life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of the day is in the morning when I wake up and so sure that I am going to attend school because I love socializing with my fellow students and learning.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I faced in life is when I lost my mother then my father when I was young. When my mother left us, my dad remarried and life was very difficult when our step-mother was around. My dad saw it good to separate us for peace to prevail until he left us. Life has been challenging after my parents died. It's difficult getting money for food and also paying for my school fees. I sometime miss attending my classes so that I can look for menial jobs that I can earn money to buy food from. We have had no support from our step-mother.
