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?
In my opinion I feel that GiveDirectly way of giving funds has really empowered me and given me an ability to transform my daily life.I am old and unemployed and rely on farming and in the time of drought ,my hope is the cash transfers that I receive from this support program. I have not seen anything that I would like GiveDirectly to do differently.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a widow who lives with 2 of my grandchildren. When I received my first transfer I tithed KES 300 , spent KES 1500 on school fees and used KES 700 on food.I used the remaining KES 500 to buy them shoes because it was Christmas. My second transfer came and as usual I gave my tithe of KES 300 and because it was a new term and I didn't have school fees arrears I paid KES 980 as a fee for the new term for both of them.I used KES 600 on food and paid a deposit of KES 500 for a mortar have always wanted to buy Currently I have saved KES 600 on my phone to pay for my weekly contribution on a sacco I joined recently.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had been in my house the whole day since I had no casual job to engage in. In addition, my phone had gone off and it had been taken for charging in the nearby center. That evening as I was just resting in my house, my co-wife who had gone to the nearby market center came in holding my phone in her hand. When our eyes caught, she smiled, and being unable to control her joy, she informed me that our transfers had been sent. Hearing such news, I felt glad because I knew that I would offset my two daughters school fee arrears of KES 1050 that had been stressing me for a couple of 3 months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before I received the GiveDirectly transfer, I was weighed down with my daughters’ school fee arrears. In addition, I had a constant struggle even to provide food for my family. However, when I received the transfer, I used just a portion of the transfer to offset school fee arrears. The rest of the transfer helped me to acquire some foodstuffs which to a great extent has supported my family. Currently, I feel some peace of mind, thus I am emotionally stable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We had been experiencing a prolonged drought that made life unbearable to us. Whatever little income I could earn, was mainly spent on buying food for the family members. Personally, I was passing through difficult times because I had no reliable source of income as a result of drought. When I received my transfer, I prioritized offsetting the school fee arrears for my two daughters which had accumulated to KES 1,050. The daughters are currently in classes 6 and 8 respectively. I am now relieved from the burden of paying school fees hence I can easily support my daughter’s additional needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widow. My husband died ten years ago leaving three children. We all live in one small house with two rooms one for my eldest son and his wife and the other is for me and five grandchildren which does not have privacy at all. Apart from that, it's taboo according to our cultural norms it might affect us by causing deaths in the future. I plan to use the transfers to build a spacious house for me and my five grandchildren so as the one that we live now to leave for elder son.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I afford to buy food for my child and grandchildren. While seeing them taking their supper with bright smiles makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a mother of three children. One is still in the primary level and the other two are adults. My husband died ten years ago, my inlaws forced me to be inherited as a second wife in the same family but when I refused I was chased out of the compound for good. I rented a house in town where I worked as a house help for six years I gathered some cash to purchase land in this village. I decided to come and live here with my family, aside from that I have a debt of approximately 25,000KES of this land which has brought me sleepless nights. The owner of this land threatens to drive me off from here and I don't have an idea where to go. My child who is our breadwinner does the casual job that earns 150 KES in a day, this sustains us to buy food only. I feel so depressed and confused.
