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
55000 KES ($433 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?
I am aspiring to buy more livestock moreso goats. I am convinced that these are the only domestic animals that can thrive so well in my region. Also, they reproduce so fast. Therefore within a short period, I believe to own a good number of them which shall empower me to be paying fees for my children on time. This will be a major support to them considering that it has been the biggest hiccup.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the organization did not do anything negative that needs to be looked into as they move to another village. They have done so well in my village by ensuring that everyone in deserves household receives the cash as promised without any delay. Also, the staff was down to earth and we could freely mingle with them and ask as many questions as we could.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a portion of my second transfer on paying tuition fees for my son who is in primary school. He has regularly been sent home because of the arrears which have been affecting him academically. As a parent, it used to stress me a lot since I felt I had failed him. Ast some point, he even wanted to drop out of school which was the most stressful moment in my life. I am so glad that GiveDirectly came in good time since I was able to send him back to school. Also, I am hoping to start a business (selling fish and vegetables). This is the most lucrative business in my village since we have been relying on the local markets which are very far away from the village. Therefore having to start the business in the village shall attract lots of customers which means there are higher chances for my business growing. With the remaining cash, I have been purchasing food and clothes for my children. They now look decent and neat which has always been my joy.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($440 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 am, and I had taken the goats out for grazing when I received an SMS. I didn’t bother to check and confirm what it was all about since I could not read and write. I am one of those who were not lucky to go to school. I kept my calm and went back home when I asked my son to confirm if it could be a message from GiveDirectly. The whole village had been anxiously waiting for the transfers within that time of the month as we had been advised. So true, it was a message from Mpesa that GiveDirectly had sent transfers. We were so excited, I could not hide my joy. I was the first person within our extended family to have received the transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I had always relied on charcoal burning, while my husband would try getting some manual jobs to do. All this could not sustain our family. We are planning to boost the charcoal-burning business with the second transfer. I would say GiveDirectly has greatly changed our lives. The fact that it enabled us to do some shoppings for our two children who were joining secondary school is a vivid indication that we could not have managed if it were not for GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought a bale of maize flour costing $24. The rest of the transfers we used on school shopping for my 2 children who were both joining high school. My daughter's shopping cost $230 while my son's cost $180. We appreciate we had no means or idea where the money would come from. I was left with some little balance that I bought clothes with.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My husband works as a masonry and I am just a housewife. I cannot work due to my health issues. I have suffered ulcers for twenty-five years now. The husband earns approximately $150 per month which mostly caters for food in the family of seven members. I have a child who has been out of school for six months now. He is form there at Vitengeni Baptist with a debt of $ 350. I will use $700 to clear the balance and prepay for next year when he will be in form four. When he stays at school all the time will improve his performance. I will also use $100 to pay school fees for two girls who are in primary school. My aim is to see my children doing well in their studies and having a bright future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband works as a masonry at Mombasa and we have two children in secondary school. These children have been out of school for almost six months due to school fees. Each had a fees balance of $ 300. On September 2022, my husband got $ 250 from his job and he paid fees for the girl who schools at Mamangina girls secondary and she was allowed to go back to school. The boy who schools at Vitengeni secondary school is still at home. Even though one is still at home, I am happy that the girl has gone back to school. I appreciate my husband's effort and he is mindful of his family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have suffered ulcers for the last twenty-five year. This has caused me to miscarriage two times and has affected my work also. I cannot involve myself in tedious activities like charcoal burning and carrying more than five plastics of water from the water pan. Ulcers is the challenge I am currently facing.
