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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectky does so well in supporting the less fortunate community. Without the transfer, I would be struggling even to raise some money for supporting my sickling mother as well as paying school fees for my children. I am so contented with the way GiveDirectly does its hence I commend it to continue doing that.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to buy food for my family. As a result of prolonged drought, my crops did not do hence it was hard for me take care of my family members. This situation forced me to depend on unreliable casual jobs. I also used about KES 1,000 to pay school fees for my 6 children. Since I had a patient, my mother who had been admitted in the hospital for close medical, I used some KES 800 to pay off her hospital bills. Thanks to GiveDirectly for its kind support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
On the day I received the funds, I was at home as I had not gotten any work. My children were also at home. For two days, they had not been attending school due to fee arrears of ksh1500. So, when I received the message of receipt of the funds, I felt like I was unburdened. I was able to take my children back to school and buy some food for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My children had been home for 2days and I had no one to turn to for support plus there were no jobs. So when I started receiving the funds, my children resumed their classes and I am now certain that I will be able to pay my debts and even progress myself. This is the biggest difference I have noted in my life
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I work at a construction site as a handyman. The job is often not consistent. There are days when I would be lucky and get a job, while other times, I would stay for even four days without getting a job. In a good week, I would earn ksh3000. This has quite limited me when it comes to providing for my family. As a result, I have school fee arrears of ksh1500. So, when I received ksh1200 from give directly, I used ksh1000 to reduce the arrears, and the remaining ksh200, I used on my food budget.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Taking care of a family of 11 is not easy especially when you don't have a stable job. For the longest time, I have been working as a casual laborer on construction sites to provide for my family. Previously, I never used to struggle as I do nowadays because jobs were not scarce as they are now. I would earn Ksh800 a day and I would divide the amount for some to cater to basic needs and pay school fees with the balance. The prolonged drought has made it difficult for people to build houses due to water scarcity. Life has become tough on my side because I can even go for a whole month without a job, this has led me to sell almost all the livestock that I had. This got me thinking if I had a business, life would not be the same as it is. With this money, I'm planning to save ish 2000 for the first five months to open a local green grocery store.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Honestly, life has been tough and I don't think I have anything to be happy about but looking back and seeing how God has taken us through all these challenges, I thank him for that.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Seeing my kids stay out of school for long because of fees arrears has not been easy. I cannot afford to pay their school fees anymore and I have left everything in God's hands. Recently, I went to talk to the school head to allow them to stay in school until I get some money to pay. I am also planning to make a payment arrangement when I get the transfers.
