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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having not received rain for a while, there was a major issue with water in our home. I therefore on receiving the 3rd transfer of KES 3000, spent KES 500 on purchasing water gallons to sustain us. The remainder of the amount which was KES 2500, I used to purchase food products for the Christmas and New year holiday.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
If they could change one thing about the program, it would be the amount of money they send to us every month. The money is not enough to do many or even big projects like building a home. It does not bring a lot of difference all at once.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has been a hard year this year. I decided to use all the money that is KES.3000 on food and water. This is because there are no rains we have not been able to plant anything on the farms so we have had to go in search of vegetables. Water too has been scarce making us buy water which has had to be transported by a motorcycle increasing the day's expenditure. Thanks to Give directly my family has yet to starve and is living comfortably.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 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 transfer I was seated at home enjoying the morning breeze when I heard my phone ring with a message tone. I quickly opened the message and saw that I had indeed received money from Give directly. I was overwhelmed with joy and the first thing I did after withdrawing the money was to buy foodstuff for my family.
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 get to make my family happy. This is due to having extra income to pay for my younger siblings' education. They can now learn smoothly without being sent back home. I lack words to express my gratitude.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving this first transfer I went ahead and paid KES.1000 on school fees for my younger siblings who have been constantly sent home due to the balance. This was a great reliefforo, my family. The next thing I did was to buy KES1400 worth of food for my family as there is a shortage of food in the village. I lastly spent KES.600 on two chickens which I would start my plan of rearing some livestock. Thanks to Give directly I feel as if a burden has been lifted from my chest.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Where we live, we are a distance from the shopping center. This means people have to trek a long way to get to shops where they can purchase goods. This has pushed me to dream of opening a kiosk that will help my villagers get goods at ease. As well, this will earn me some profits from the sales. With the transfers, I am planning to accumulate them to enable me to realize the same.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Palm wine selling is currently not doing well due to the harsh weather condition. However, whatever little I get that I bring home for my mother and siblings makes me very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am the firstborn son of my parents in a family of 7. My father works as a mason in town, but his earning is not enough to carry us through. This has made our life difficult, and just to help the situation, I decided to drop out of school. I sought to venture into palm wine tapping and selling, just to make ends meet in the family. The decision to drop out was so hard to make, but I thought it is a sacrifice I have to make, for they say firstborns are like deputy parents.
