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 ($494 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Our lives have improved a lot since the receipt of the transfer. My children have ample study time and I have no worries about their safety and security because they no longer walk around at night.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by offering grants rather than loans. Poor people would probably be more willing to take grants than loans because they would avoid the worries and stresses of repayments. Even so, GiveDirectly offers insufficient funds that cannot fully suffice all our pressing issues.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used all the second transfer (53, 000 shillings) on building a house for my sons. They used to go and sleep with my neighbor's children since they had no room in our compound. That could expose them to some safety risks and adversely affect their study time as they walk in the evening.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I remember I was it was in the afternoon when I heard an incoming message on my phone and I checked it as always it could be and to my surprise, it was a Mpesa message confirming to me that I had received money from GD. I couldn't control the joy as imagined how my children could stay in school pursue their dreams since I knew I had gotten their fee ready from the cash.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I majorly depend on subsistence farming which has not been doing well enough to cater for both household daily needs and any other goal in the family. I have children in various schools and my biggest ambition is to see them prosper in their education to allow them to have a better life in the future. Raising their school fees is challenging for me due to the limited resources in our family. Currently, the biggest difference in my life is being able to clear my children's school fees since this assures me that they will have a good time in school to study thus I expect better results from them. With education, I feel my children's future is secured that why I thank GiveDirectly for the financial support that enabled me to educate my kids
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I keep on working hard in farming to be able to sustain and meet the arising needs of my family. The financial assistance I got from GiveDirectly was a game-changer in my life. I took KES20000 to buy furniture for my house that has seemed empty for a long. It is my happiness that I currently enjoy the comfort of my beautiful house. In addition, I used KES5000 to buy a sheep. I am happy I have a growing asset on my farm that I can always rely on for financial needs arising. I spent the remaining amount to clear my children's school fees. This gave me peace of mind and happiness since I know education is the best gift I can give to my children. I spend the
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have three kids who are in school. One is in University, the second one is in the final year of his secondary education while the last one is in last year of her primary education. I usually pay 80,000 to cater for their school fees every year. This is a lot of money considering the fact that my husband is the only one working. Receiving this money will mean that I will be able to pay the full amount of their school fees on time so that I can have adequate grace period to plan for the subsequent year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After I am done with the normal household chores, I milk my cattle and take the milk in cans to the road side for the dairy vehicle to transport to the nearest milk plant. I then head to my farm to do some farming activities like transplanting, planting, weeding etc of maize, vegetables and tomatoes. Later in the afternoon I bring the cattle to take water in the pans and chop some feeds for them to graze on until evening. The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I mingle with my friends/villagers as we share advices and jokes while doing my chores.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have six kids in total. One thing that I thank God for is that He has blessed me with bright kids and they are all on course to reaching tertiary level. As we speak, three of my kids have finished their University education, one is still in University, one in secondary level while the last is in in primary level. My husband is the only one working as I carryout some farming activities to chip in where possible. So the toiling associated with getting their school fees on time is the biggest hardship I have ever faced.
