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
53150 KES ($468 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Purchasing a sky blast for storing clean water is my new goal. The main goal that I had was to pay school fees for my children in various schools. I have one in the University and two in secondary school. Currently, I have a sky blast for storing clean water for domestic uses. We are no longer being exposed to water-related diseases. We are so grateful for the support. Purchasing a sky blast for storing clean water is my new goal. The main goal that I had was to pay school fees for my children in various schools. I have one in the University and two in secondary school. Currently, I have a sky blast for storing clean water for domestic uses. We are no longer being exposed to water-related diseases. We are so grateful for the support.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to build a better house and to buy dairy cows. This is being done so perfectly without any discrimination. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20,000 to pay school fees for my son in secondary school. KES 12,000 to pay school fees for my two children in secondary school. I am so grateful because this was my main concern. My children now are studying well without being sent home like before. I spent KES 10,000 to purchase the sofa set seats I didn't have before. I am so grateful because now when I have visitors they can sit comfortably. The rest of the money I bought sky blast and food for the family. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standards.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($491 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was about 9.00a.m and I was in a meeting in my village when I received a message confirming receipt of my first transfer..I was so excited knowing that most of my planned projects could be achieved.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the relief we got after clearing school fees arrears for all my children.Am happy that they will be able to have an ample time on catching up.I am grateful to Givedirectly since I can see a great future for all my children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My four children one in University and three in Secondary have been frequently coming home due to school fees arrears. This had really stressed me since they could be sent home weekly and it was unfortunate I could not raise the amount.Once we received this transfer, we prioritized on clearing the arrears of Kshs.30,000.We are now happy that they settled in school.We also thought of purchasing a solar delight at Kshs.4000 so that my children could use to st udy.I also paid a debt of Kshs.5,000 and spent the remaining in buying food.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I was growing up I never saw any value in going to school. I thought that doing so was nothing but a waste of time. I now know that our current challenges are a result of not getting good education. That is why my number one desire is to have my children study up to university level. My firstborn son is in Machakos University while 3 others are in high school. The burden of having them in school is a hard nut to crack. I pay KES 30000 for the one in university and KES 10000 for those in high school every single term. This is hard for me to raise considering that my income is KES 400 each month. Receiving this money will be a big sigh of relief to me as it will give me time to think of other equally important things.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My mornings are always full of activities like keeping an eye on my livestock as I do some weeding in the farm. It is in the afternoon that I get to rest therefore making it the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Feeding a family of 8 members has been the biggest source of hardship in my life. I depend on farming as the only source of livelihood. In my farm, I plant maize, beans and sweet potatoes but due to prolonged drought that is witnessed in this area, I never get to harvest. Last year, I had a tractor plough my 1-acre piece of land at a cost of KES 3000. I used another KES 7000 to buy seeds and also pay for labor for two workers that I had in the farm. Nobody can imagine that after so much hardwork I only managed to harvest 45kilograms of maize.
