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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes to 6 pm that day while attending to my customers at my maize selling shop. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and this motivated me to serve customers because that was their prime time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the clearance of schools fees last terms school fees arrears for my kids in high school. For me, that was quite a struggle but now I am stress-free. This has motivated me to work hard in my work to get school fees. I am also grateful because I have reclaimed part of the land that we had sold out for school fees purposes.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of 6 and I have worked as a maize vendor for the past four years. In addition, I also do egg vending where I get up to KES 300 profits on the sale of three egg trays. From the proceeds, I would get money to pay school fees. But this was not enough because I have two kids in high school. I was even forced to shift my son from a boarding school to a day school.
Therefore, when I received my transfers school fees were my priority. I, therefore, spent KES 17,000 on school fees payment for my son and daughter in high school.
In addition, I spent KES 30,000 on the purchase of the eighth piece of land that we had previously sold out due to school fees.
Lastly, I spent KES 2800 on 320 liters of a water storage drum. This will help in the storage of water for a longer period, especially during rainy seasons. I also spent KES 3200 on a bag of maize which will sustain my family before we receive the next transfers.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means quality education for my children.I have 2 children in secondary school and the other three in primary school level.Payment of school fees for them has been a struggle to us.We have sold out all our livestock in order to pay School fee.Receiving this money will therefore enable me clear a school fee arrears and pay for the next year.This amount is equivalent to KES 46000 for both my children. My daughter who is yet to join form four will be able to study comfortably and achieve good grades because her school fee payment will be settle.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The love and the unity we have with my family has given me joy in life.we have a close relationship with my children and whenever we give them advise we see them pay attention and follow them.They have been able to portray good character in the community and have also excel in their education areas.This has therefore boosted my self esteem as another and has made me happy in the past 6 months.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints is the biggest challenge we are currently facing.We have 5 children in school and all of them require food and quality education.Meeting their needs has been a challenge because my husband and I depend on casual jobs as our source of income. These jobs have reduced because of the prolonged drought and low rate of farming within the community.
