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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($435 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My biggest accomplishment will be to open a grocery and combine it with my food vending business. I would like to have a centralized place where I can run my business because it is hectic to walk around selling cooked food. I also believe that having a centralized place to run my business will be an opportunity to have many more customers.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did very well by giving us support as cash. This gave us the freedom to choose how to spend money. I am so elated that I could pay school fees for my children. I am grateful because through my small business, I can support my husband and meet some of our financial obligations. I have no criticism of GiveDirectly other than my request to continue eradicating poverty with the support program.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am married with seven children and my husband is unemployed and makes palm wine to earn a living. Three of my daughters are married, and I am left with four children who are still at school. My first transfer was mostly in paying school fees for my four children and whatever remained was what I bought: a bed and a mattress for my children and a goat. My second transfer of $320 was used to pay school fees for my two children in high school. I also bought food for the family for $63 and used $50 to improvise the floor of my house. The remaining money was used to open a food vending business which is selling of cooked beans with “chapati” and fried fish and hawks them to my neighbors.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($462 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7:43 in the evening when I was about to take my evening when I realized that I had received a new message. After checking, I realised that it was an Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and grateful because I was sure that my son will go back to school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to clear the fee arrears for my son who is in high school. This has been giving me headaches and sleepless nights since I had tried all the means to make ends meet but in vain. My spouse is a palm wine tapper, the little earnings could not sustain the needs of the whole family and pay fees for our son. This forced him to stay at home for a couple of weeks. Skipping exams used to be a routine which has been demoralizing him hence dragging him behind. I honestly can't express my joy at seeing him back to school at long last. I will continue to pray to God to guide him to finish his course. This will honestly brighten not only his future but the entire family since he is the first to join high school among his siblings.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying a goat of worthy KES 5000. It has been my wish to own it for years but I could afford it because they were costly. I also bought a bed and a mattress at KES 14000 to replace the old beddings which I was not comfortable with. I paid school fees of KES 5000 for my son who is in high school. I am so glad that he is now continuing with his studies without any disturbances. I also settled a debt of KES 10000 to my neighbour and I now have peace of mind. Later on, I bought two bags of cement so that I can renovate my floor and reduce the dust. I also used the remaining amount of money to buy food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband works as a tapper in a nearby village. Despite the risks of falling from climbing tall coconut trees, especially during windy and rainy seasons, he always does this for the sake of our family. The wages of KES 200 are also enough to cater to our basic needs such as food. My longing has been to have a stable source of income that can support us. Receiving this transfer means fulfilling my desire. I am planning to spend KES 60,000 to run a shop. This will generate income for our family of 6. In a day we can make an approximate KES 600, this is enough to sustain all our needs. Also, I will invest the remaining cash to clear school fees for my children who are in secondary school and renovate the walls of my house which are collapsing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My 3 beautiful daughters were married last year. According to our culture, once a lady is married the spouse should pay dowry to the bride's family as a sign of appreciation. One of my sons-in-law came last month and paid KES 20,000 dowry and this brought a lot of joy to my family. I felt that he respected as because the rest have never paid anything yet they have my girls.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Last month April my husband got an accident when he was in his normal duties of tapping. He was injured by a sharp object on his leg. This contributed a lot of complication and currently he is at home he can no longer work and provide for us. He has visited several hospitals for medication but all has been in vain. Therefore my husband sickness is the current challenge I am facing. Prolonged drought is another challenge I am experiencing.
