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
53150 KES ($445 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?
After paying school fees for my only daughter enrolled in High school and my two sons in primary school, I developed a goal of building a new house. Previously I lived in a small house that could not comfortably accommodate all my family members. At the moment, I have a spacious two-roomed new house. As a result, we no longer struggle as we used to before I received my recent transfer. I am so glad to have experienced such a change in my life. Indeed the transfer timing must have been God ordained.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Because the percentage of needy people and hard-pressed with high poverty levels are so high, GiveDirectly stands out as the most known NGO that works so well in breaking the poverty cycle among the poor communities. I believe that offering cash transfers helps to empower people with low living standards. So far, I have not observed what GiveDirectly does not do well since its way of operation is clear for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Immediately after I received my transfer, I prioritized spending KES 20,000 on paying school fees for my children. They were just at home because of school fee arrears. Before that, I struggled to raise their school fee in vain. As a result, they could miss several lessons, and their performance dropped the last term. In addition, I spent KES 10,000 on food since the previous season never yielded a good harvest because of prolonged drought. We never had adequate foodstuffs. As a result, it was difficult for me to support my children as a single mother for the past four months.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($478 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my money I felt very happy.It was around 8 Am in the morning and was at work already and everyone who was with me knew that something good has happened to since my happiness was contagious though I couldn't inform them about it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life now since I started receiving this transfers is I am relieved now, my children will now have place to sleep when I finished building them an additional house as there bedrooo.I am also comfortable since in term of sleeping and wake up very energetic on the morning unlike before due to lack of proper beddings I have so many back pains because of poor beddings.This transfers also shouldered part of my daily expenditures since what I earn as community health is only enough for food only.I even saved some part of the transfers for my child schooling.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to buy beddings worth 10000 KES and saved some for school fees and house construction.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means upgraded welfare for me. With my two children, I am living in a house that is not furnished. I have no mattresses, chairs, tables and the utensils are inadequate. My house also allows so much wind to blow in. This has affected my health because I am asthmatic. Hopefully, once I receive the money, I will use a total of 30,000 KES to renovate and furnish my house. Better welfare comes with dignity and peace of mind
What is the happiest part of your day?
Our area member of the county assembly kick-started a piped water project in our locality. This was in last year December 2021. This gave me so much joy because the hustle we go through when fetching water is almost coming to an end. When the project is completed, I will no longer be walking for almost 2km for water.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been working as a community health volunteer since 2004. Inconsistency is the challenge that comes with this job. The health projects are seasonal. That means I remain jobless until the time a health project is initiated in this village. This has been disadvantaging our welfare as a family. When no health projects are running, I have no source of income, leaving me to struggle to fend for my 2 children.
