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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly, in my opinion, does a good job of providing financial assistance to people of the community. People who were previously financially strapped have been able to achieve or refocus more on their upcoming goals as a result of the transfer. This could not have been the case before we started getting the funds. Our village is undergoing a positive development at the moment. People can get food and clothes, and some are even starting to build new homes. Thanks for the financial assistance provided through GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As an expectant mother, I was in the business of selling food to pupils when schools were in session. I was doing this to save money for my unborn child, as I am due in May. However, I have not been able to earn any money since the schools closed because I temporarily stopped that business. Unfortunately, I have already depleted all of my business savings as a result of my husband's illness, which caused him not to work the whole of the first week of April 2022. Because he is a bodaboda rider, he was unable to work while unwell. I decided to spend KES 1,000 as soon as I received my transfer to supplement what we had for our family of five. In addition, I spent KES 1,000 on clothes and KES 1,000 on a savings account for my unborn child, who is due in May.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Being expectant, I have regular clinic checkups and on this day, I was on my way to have one that had been scheduled by the doctor. I received an MPESA message from GiveDirectly and the joy could be seen all over my face. I went back home after the clinic checkup and discussed it with my husband on the way forward. I later in the day withdrew the funds.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
GiveDirectly came through for us in a mighty way as we had nothing left in the house and no cash to use. I was able to purchase food items and hence could eat and not starve straining our unborn kid too.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Getting by the days has quite been difficult as I am expectant and due in May, thus not able to move around to work as I had been selling vegetables and mangoes until the school holidays began. I live with my husband who is employed as a motorbike taxi rider and roughly averages KES 500-1000 on a daily basis. With the KES 1200 received, I bought food for the house at KES 500 as the amount that was left was to sustain us only for the night and it came at the time when my husband had remitted the funds he made to the employer. I also bought clothes for myself amounting to KES 500 as I had to get well fitting clothes. The remaining KES 200, I purchased body and hair oil.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have two major things that I have always wanted to achieve in my life. One is to continue with my studies because I was not lucky enough to finish school due to insufficient finances. My other plan is to build a house for my family. Since I got married a year ago, we have been sleeping in my mother-in-law's house and this is not something I am proud of because it has deprived us of our privacy. The transfers will not be enough to achieve all these once and this is why I plan to leave the money on my Mpesa account for some time until they are enough to start these projects.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Amidst all the struggle that I have been facing with my husband and even lack of a house to live in, he still managed to start a small business for me which has brought joy and happiness in my life because I can find something to buy food for the family as he looks for ways of getting money to build a house for me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Sharing a house with my mother-in-law yet my family is still young is lowering my self esteem in the community. This happens because most young couples have established themselves and built good houses and here I am still struggling because of lack of money. My current challenge is insufficient capital to build a house for my family and have a good living condition.
