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 ($467 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?
The new goal that I didn't had before receiving the transfer is purchasing school uniforms and paying school fees on time. This is because I depend on casual jobs and the money that I would get was not enough due to recurrent household basic needs. I didn't know I would be in a position to purchase nee uniforms. I am so grateful because all this was possible and my children are happy and studying well without being disturbed.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Giving money to the poor in the community to pay school fees and to build up better house is what GiveDirectly does well. The field officers are kind and does the registration process well. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 to pay school fees for my two children in secondary school. My children used to be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affecting their performance. I do casual jobs in the village and the money that I get is small and I was not in a position to clear the school fees on time. I spent KES 10,000 to purchase a heifer. This is an investment and when it reproduce in the future I would be able to get enough milk and cut the daily cost of buying milk. The rest of the money I spent on food, clothes and utensils. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards to be much better than before.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt so happy. I remember it was around 1pm. When I heard a ringtone message from my phone. When I checked it out I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. My neighbors started to receive the money morning hours. I was so worried about mine but I decided to remain calm and wait. I immediately inform my family members and the felt so happy. I knew I would be able to pay school fees for my children in various schools.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I paid school fees for my son who is in secondary school. He was able to study well without being sent home. Most of the time he was being sent home and this was affecting his performance in school. I depend on casuL jobs in the village and sometimes it's so hard to get one. The money is so small and I was only able to meet basic needs and pay part of the school fees. I do small scale farming and sometimes I sell the produce to pay school fees. Currently I am so happy and I have peace of mind to do my daily activities at home and save the little money that I get. My children are so happy and they have promised to work hard to improve their performance in school. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled me to pay school fees on time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15,000 to pay school fees for my children in secondary and primary school. I am so happy because they were able to study well without being sent home. I bought building materials and build a better house for my family. The rest of the money I bought food and clothes for my family members. We are so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means now we will have a dairy cow of our own. The current one we have is not mine, I borrowed my relative since I was no longer capable to purchase milk for consumption. We depending on casual jobs as a source of income and this could only cater for food and school fees for my five children. Because of that high expenses we had not managed to purchase one. God willing if we received this transfers I will purchase a dairy cow of around 25,000 shillings. I will be now comfortable since I will not be worried of the owner taking his back. Others I will use in pay school fees and build a better house for children where they can study peaceful.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon. It is at this time because I get time to rest after a lot manual activities. Usually after completing my household chores I move around the neighbourhood looking for any manual jobs available, since this is my main source of income. Mainly this activities is like weeding or digging someones land at a fee, it requires alot of energy hence by noon once get tired.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship we have faced in our family is lack of stable income. The farm we inherit from our parents is quite small hence cannot produce enough for family consumption and surplus. So the income from the casual jobs we do goes to purchasing food mainly.
