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 ($529 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($542 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am now living a happier life than before. This is because I have been able to clear paying school fees for my children. Also, I have been able to start building a decent house for my family. Even though I have not started living in it, I am hopeful that I will very soon. Due to this, the stress we usually undergo whenever it rains will cease to exist.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning after I woke up when I realized that I had two unread messages on my phone. My heart was filled with happiness after reading its contents as the messages indicated that KES 55000 had been debited into my account. I sang happily thanking God for the good news as I informed my family about the news. I knew that with this money, I would finally be able to clear paying school fees arrears for my children.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
My children's education has always been my priority because I would love to see them live a better life than mine. Due to this, I spent KES 19000 to clear school fees arrears for my two children in secondary school. Also, I spent some amount to build a decent and spacious house for my family. I bought some timber, building poles, nails and 28 pieces of iron sheets and also paid the full cost of labor. I settled on this since we have been living in a grass-thatched house with a leaking roof. This had posed a health threat to my family as we had to squeeze ourselves in one corner and persevere the dumbness in the house whenever it rained. I bought one goat for rearing as an asset in my homestead. I will be selling its offspring as it reproduces with time and use the money to pay school fees for my children. I still have some amount that I am intending to use in case of an emergency.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My first born son is sitting for the national examination this year in Kapoleseroi secondary school, about 4 kilometers away from home. The challenge has been fees arrears of Kshs 28,500 (285usd) he owes the school. Thanks to GiveDirectly I am going to spend the same amount of my first transfer to settle this debt done and dusted so my son gets an ample time studying in preparation for the task ahead, because I want him to pass and join university next year. In addition I will use Kshs 11,500 (115usd) is clearing arrears of my daughter in the same school who is in form 3.
From the second transfer I intend to use Kshs 30,000 (300usd) to buy a dairy cow. Consequently I would not have to go out for manual jobs in the village but tend after my cow. For the first time I will be in a position to make savings for my children's education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Waking up strong and healthy in the morning is the happiest part of my day. This is because knowing that I have the strength and sound mind at my disposal, I can go out for work and therefore we would have beat another day against hunger.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a casual labourer making at most Kshs 300 (3usd) a day with 6 mouths to feed and 4 children to educate is no mean feat. My husband is a shoe cobbler in Siongiroi town, about 5 km away. He goes to work every morning on foot to curtail expenses. My husband makes Kshs 300 (3usd) too on a good day. This amount is only enough to buy a day's meal making us live from hand to mouth. This is why for this year alone, two of my children in secondary school owes the school a sum of Kshs 40,000 (400usd). One of them is sitting for the national examination, without which he will not transition to university. My biggest worry is that the arrears are going to become a huge impediment to his preparation for the exam.
