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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I finished my secondary education some many years back in 2017. I passed well got a call to join the university. Because of the poor financial state my family was going through, I could not join the university due to lack of school fees. Since then I have been helping my parents in raising the small number of livestock at home. My parents are now old and do not have a job and we mostly depend on my elder brother who works in town as a mason. His earnings are very little and he can help us only by buying food. When I got enrolled in the program, I was happy because I was going to use the money to learn some new skills and become independent. Since then I have been saving KSH 2500 of the transfer I receive every month so that I can join a driving school and learn how to drive. With the remaining amount of KSH 500, I bought food for my family.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has really helped my family and I especially since at times we used to go hungry but with the funds we received it has been quite sometime since that happened and I am so glad because I have younger siblings. Also soon enough through the funds I receive I will be able to start driving school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After I received the money the first I considered was nutrition because my parents had no jobs and depended on casual labour so that they could get money to feed us. In the past they practised subsistence farming but drought had made that very hard this year. Therefore I went ahead and bought two bags of maize flour where each contained a dozen packets and each was KES 1,200 so I ended up paying KES 2,400 in total. As for what was left I went and bought half a kilogram of sugar for KES 100 and tea leaves worth KES 20. I was left with KES 480 which I still have in my savings account for a rainy day.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was just at home doing some household chores when I heard my phone vibrate. I went and took a look and confirmed that they had sent us some money. I was so happy when I read the message and shouted with joy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that now I can put food on the table with no struggle. Whether I get a good job or no pay, my family can get to have their meals with no interruption. I know I can also plan for my future. I was able to buy two chickens which were not possible earlier.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used this first transfer to help out my family as my father is the breadwinner of the family. He and I both are farmers when I am not in school. The first thing I did was to buy food worth KES.500 I also left a little which I went and bought myself some clothes worth KES.100 so that I too could look good. I also wanted to rear some chicken for home consumption. I was able to buy two chickens worth KES.600. I am very thankful to Give directly for this support.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My ambition is to become a driver since few people in this village have licenses to be allowed to drive and carry palm wine to the market. I do plowing during the rainy season to earn a living but since this year started I wasn't able to work due to the drought. I plan to join driving college so as immediately I complete the course to get employed and earn a better salary and live a better life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a casual worker, I felt happy once it started raining. This time I knew that many people will need my service of plowing and earn good money.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I dropped out of school in form two. My parents were unable to raise school fees due to financial issues. I had no otherwise but to come back to the village to start hurtling. Currently, I depend on casual jobs that give me 50 KES daily. My mother does charcoal vending and she earns 100KES in a day, whatever she gets we combine to purchase at least two kilograms of maize flour that serves us one meal within twenty-four hours. The house that I live in is too small, I have no beddings, the clothes that I wear are worn out and I don't have money to buy new ones. It's sad for a young man like me to be in this situation.
