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 ($436 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before I used to own a retail shop but due to family pressing needs and paying school fees for my children I run out of stock. I wish to start all over again when my children completed their studies. I will earn some income to meet all the basic needs and support my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
All process of training and registration was perfectly done and since the money was unconditional, most of the people invested in different income-generation projects. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I lived in a small house with my family of eight and we were not comfortable. It is taboo in our culture to live under one roof with grow up children. I had always wished to build a better and more spacious house but I did not have the money to purchase the building material. I rely on small-scale farming, I plant maize and beans but this is majorly for consumption. I used part of the first transfer to purchase some of the materials and when I received the second transfer I spent $200 on completing the construction of the new house. Currently, we are living comfortably unlike before. My children are so happy and grateful since they have their private rooms. I paid $200 on school fees for my two children in secondary school. They used to be sent home and this was affecting their performance in school. Currently, they are studying well without being disturbed like before. The rest of the money I spent on food and other household items that we were missing at that time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($461 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can vividly recall that It was in the evening when I was preparing supper for my family. Then suddenly, I heard my phone ringing. Upon checking what the message was all about, I realised that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from Segovia technology. I was so happy and excited. My children too were overwhelmed with happiness throughout the evening. We then embarked on planning how best we would cash out the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I was able to construct a decent house for my family which had been my dream for a long period. Receiving the unconditional transfer from GiveDirectly made it possible for me to easily accomplish my goal which I was unable due to financial constraints because we had used all the resources that we had on paying the school fees for my children. We are forever indebted to the organization for giving had the perfect opportunity for us to uplift our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to live in a grass-thatched house together with my children. This is because I was unable to construct a decent house for my family due to financial constraints as a result of school fees responsibilities and other basic needs. Therefore, I used the entire KES 55,000 to construct a decent house for my family. This has been my dream for a while now but I was unable to achieve it due to financial constraints. I am a small-scale businesswoman blessed with seven children. The support from GiveDirectly has changed our living standards in a short time in a way that we could not have imagined thus we are grateful.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better education for my children. I have two children in secondary school who are yet to sit for their final exams. Getting school fees for them has given me sleepless nights wondering where to get the money since I depend on casual jobs which are not consistent and whatever amount I get is not sufficient to meet all their needs. So when I receive this transfer I will spend KES 45000 to clear school fees arrears before they sit for their final exams. My children will have a humble time revising for their final exams.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On my small farm, I planted beans which I am yet to harvest. Their yield is good and optimistic that I will harvest two sacs which I intend to take to school for school fees and the rest for family use. This has brought joy and happiness into my life as it will relieve me of other expenses.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. I have 2 children in secondary school and it has been a challenge finding school fees for them. I do casual jobs around the village, weeding people's farms however, my income is not sufficient to meet all my household needs including paying for their academic fees and purchasing food. With food prices inflation having 3 meals in a day is by luck and this worries me, especially with young children.
