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.
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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?
I have been running a small business that I boosted with part of the transfer I had received. This has been one of my main sources of income that pays most of the bills including school fees. At the moment I have a new goal of adding one cow to my field that would, in turn, increase the production of milk and thus an additional source of income for my household.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
in my opinion, monetary support from GiveDirectly was the best decision that everyone embraced as it gave us a chance to address the immediate challenges we had in our households. The money came directly to our accounts making it easier for us to access and use on time. No one has ever complained in our village over it but we are thankful for everything that has been happening since then.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The greatest challenge that I had been facing in my household has been raising school fees for my four children currently in secondary school. Paying and providing all their requirements have been so demanding that I sometimes sell some assets to enable them to stay in school. I was grateful to be part of this noble project that enabled me to clear all their school fees after paying KES 15000 each of the three sons in the upper secondary school, and KES 10000 for my daughter who has just joined her grade 9. Previously I was dependent on my small businesses, and small-scale farming that was not always successful especially when the drought strikes. Thanks to GiveDirectly for the break that I am now enjoying as I work on other income-generating projects before I am required to make the next payment.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 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 from GiveDirectly I felt so happy. I remember it was around 10 am. When I heard a message tone from my phone. I was on my farm planting vegetables. When I checked it out I couldn't believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. I inform my family members and they were so happy. I knew I would be able to pay school fees for my children. I am so happy for the support.
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 was able to pay university fees for my son who was joining. This was always in my mind because I didn't had the money to pay. I have two other children in the University and this had taken all the money I had. I depend on small scale farming and I have a poultry keeping project. This two earns me an income to meet all my basic household items and also pay the school fees for the children. When I received the money from GiveDirectly I felt so happy. This was God sent because my son could not have joined the University. I paid KES 30,000 and took him to school. Right bow he is doing well and studying. I am so grateful for the support because were it not GiveDirectly this could not have happened. I have peace of mind to do my daily activities without any stress.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 of the money I received from GiveDirectly to pay school fees for my son who was joining the University. I am so happy because this was always on my mind and I didn't had the money. I sent KES 12,000 to my two children in the University to pay their rent and to buy food. The rest of the money I bought clothes and food . I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always had the desire that all my children get good education up to college level. This will secure their future and ours too because when they get good jobs we will live a better life. I personally dropped out of school at the age of 12 due to lack of proper parenting and my life has not been easy without education. I do casual jobs which we substitute with farming that my husband does,this earns us Ksh 300 daily which is not enough to pay school fees for our four children in secondary boarding schools. Each child school fees is Ksh 30,000 per year. Upon receiving this money i will use it to clear the arrears that i have of Ksh 60,000 and use the rest to pay for next terms fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning. I am always thankful to God when I wake up healthy because I know I will fend for my family. I usually wake up to prepare breakfast and get my children ready for school. Once they leave, I go and do work at other people's farm upto 3.00 pm ,thereafter I go back home after earning money for the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is lack of stable source of income. My husband and I do casual jobs and subsistence farming in order to get money to meet our family needs. We earn an average of Ksh 300 per day and this is not enough to cater for food and education for our 6 children who are still in school.