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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($421 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
We are slowly feeling the effect of climate change in our area. Bumper harvest is now the story of the past. Most of us rely on rain to cultivate our farms. Shortages of rain have sent us back to the drawing board to think of another way to earn a living. Milk is now retailing at KES 70 a liter which is very lucrative. I am planning to take a loan of KES 100000 and venture into the business of dairy farming to enable me to earn living for my family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
With the ability to spend your transfer on your pressing needs, most children were able to get an education without being sent home to fetch school fees. I am happy that my son managed to complete his undergraduate with the help of GiveDirectly. We are struggling with unsafe water for domestic use in our area. I would have loved it if GiveDirectly would have started a project to address the problem of water shortage in our area.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I can not hide my happiness after my son completed his undergraduate education last year. Things were tough on me but GiveDirectly's transfers were a game-changer. Upon receiving my second transfer I spared KES 33000 and paid school fees. This brought back my long-lost sleep after years of stressing about where to fetch school fees for my child. Our main house also stalled since our little family income went to food for the family. After clearing school fees arrears I prioritized completing our house with the remaining money.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11 pm and we had retired to bed. Suddenly, I heard my phone ringing notifying me of a new message. I wondered what it was all about as I reach out for it. I could not believe my eyes when I read the SMS which was saying that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly as promised. I was so happy seeing this that I lost my sleep. I felt like telling my wife about the good news but seeing how fast asleep she was, I decided to change my mind and tell her about it in the morning. She was so happy and we gave thanks to God because the plans we had were now going to be fulfilled.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer money has brought a very big difference in our lives as a family. We were able to complete the construction of the house that we had always wished to complete. We can hence put all of our energy and thoughts on other developments such as the business. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for this support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer money on completing the building of the house that I had earlier on started to build it. I was not able to complete building the house because of financial constraints. The money that I was making from my business of buying and selling cows I used most of it in paying school fees for my four children, two who were in the university and two who were in secondary school. So when GiveDirectly came in, I thought that completing the house was going to be the best thing to do once upon receiving the transfer. With the completed house, I will no longer have worries and thoughts about where to get money to do so. I therefore appreciate GiveDirectly a lot because of the great help that they gave me.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means quality education for my grandchildren. I have two grandchildren who are currently in secondary school, I adopted them because they are orphans and it's my responsibility to make sure they complete their secondary school education successfully. I plan to pay for their school fees using the transfers. Currently, I owe the school KES 10,000 for the last term. I will pay for this term and next year since both of them are in form three. The current fee due is KES 30,000 and the final year's fee is KES 40,000. The remaining amount I will use to buy foodstuffs, clothing, and beddings for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In May this year, my eldest son David visited me from Nairobi. He came home with some friends and promised to build a new house for me. It was a dream come through since I have been leaving in a single house acting as a kitchen, and the main house. A two-bedroom permanent house is under construction currently and can't wait to be completed so that I move in and enjoy the fruits of my children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraint is a challenge I face currently. Am an old man who depends mainly on farming to pay school fees and get family needs. For the last two years, the rainfall pattern in our region has changed a lot. I used to harvest 20 bags of maize in one acre of land. This year I harvested only 3 bags of maize meaning no school fees for my grandchildren, nor enough food for the family consumption. Currently, I am depending on my children but I feel am becoming a bother to them since they have their responsibilities to attend to. Being a man is also embarrassing to depend on someone else's hence I feel bad about it.
