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?
Illiteracy delayed my joy! It was the second day after the transfers were sent when I heard people talking about receiving their money. I was puzzled thinking that maybe my details were not successful. Curiously in a panic mood, I silently contacted my helper to confirm as well as called the number we were given to inquire what went wrong. When my helper checked my phone he informed me that I had been moving around with the transfer of KES 55000.00 on my phone for the past two days. I was filled with joy and happiness knowing that the food problem that has been bothering my family was going to be solved.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially, my family and I were starving of hunger. The charcoal business which had been sustaining us had collapsed and things were tougher on me as the head of the family. Upon getting the transfer from GiveDirectly, things changed for the better. My family has an access to food and also the business which we relied on initially is now back and doing well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, the priority was paying school fees for my secondary school child, thus I paid KES 25000.00 so that he could be retained in school for proper learning instead of being sent home now and then like before. I also bought a sack of maize for KES 4500.00. This sack of maize would serve my family for a couple of weeks. Without forgetting, I cleared a bill from a shop where I used to take some foodstuff at times. I also repaired my motorbike for KES 3000.00. This motorbike was to aid me in distributing charcoals. For a while, the charcoal business had collapsed but I revived it after getting the first transfer.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My second born is on the verge of dropping high school because of a lack of school fees. When I look at the kind of life I have with my family it is pathetic and I know it is because I never went to school and I cannot get a decent job to take care of them well. Receiving this money means settling all the school fees for her high school. I will use the remaining money to buy goats to be a reminder that Givedirectly came into my life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The days I was a herdsman was great as I was guaranteed a salary of 6,000 KES per month which brought joy and happiness to me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Four of my children are at home because of a lack of school fees and the situation is worsening as I also have no food to feed them. I was employed as a herdsman where I was earning 6,000 KES per month due to the prolonged drought the animals died and the job ended.
