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 ($440 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?
My next goal is for me to expand my cereal business, with it I can attract more income. I plan to initiate this goal through table banking from the community self-help group.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Receiving money from GiveDirectly was a blessing from above. We are happy to have received the unconditional transfer that uplifted our lives amazingly. Throughout my interaction with the GiveDirectly staff, I have not witnessed things that were not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
School fees have been an uphill task that I have been struggling with for the longest period. This forced me to sell all the cows that I had. I am a mother of three children, married and a businesswoman, specializing in selling cereal in the local market. Receiving money from GiveDirectly was the best thing that had happened in my life. This is because I acquired two dairy cows worth $450 and $150, respectively. I am happy that I would save up the money that I used to buy milk daily. I am grateful for the support that made it easy for me to accomplish my goal in a short period.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($473 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 almost 9 am and I was at the farm planting maize together with some children from the neighborhood, when suddenly I heard my phone ringing notifying me of a new message. I stopped for a while to check what it was all about. I could not believe my eyes when I read that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly as promised. I was so happy that I decided to postpone whatever I was doing to another day. My children had earlier called me asking for some money, so I went home and I hurriedly prepared myself to go withdraw and send them the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a very big difference in my life. I am happy and so much grateful because I managed to meet the needs of my children with the transfer. The children have not asked for any money from me ever since then. I have thus had some peace of mind.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the entire recent transfer amount on meeting the needs of my two children who are in the university. One of them wanted to buy a laptop since they had been requested at the University to buy one. I had before tried my best and I sent him some of the money that I got from selling the potatoes that I had planted on another farm. The money though was not enough to buy a laptop. So, when I got the transfer, I took KES 40000 and I sent it to him to top up to the amount he had and buy the laptop. I also sent the remaining KES 15000 to them so that they could use KES 10000 on paying their house rent and KES 5000 on buying food and for their upkeep. I am thus grateful to GiveDirectly because I don't know where I could have gotten such a huge sum of money within a short time to meet the needs. I think I would have been forced to borrow it from someone else. There is a farm that I have in another county where I usually grow potatoes and sell them. The money that I get from the sales, is what I usually depend on to pay university fees for my children and to meet their needs. When I am not farming, I usually go on Mondays during the market day, to sell maize. The money that I get as profit after paying the seller, usually helps me in purchasing the essential household items, that is, sugar, soap, etc.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a single mother with two children in the university and the other two in secondary school. Casual jobs earn me KES 200 which is not enough to pay for their school fees and sometimes I depend on well-wishers for fundraising. Receiving this money means they will study to completion and pursue their dream careers. Since I had sold all the cows to take them to school, I plan on buying two dairy cows with KES 50,000 and using the rest of the transfer to clear school fees in arrears of KES 60,000. I am delighted to know that I will have a stable source of income in the future from the sale of milk.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My daughter sat for her secondary school examinations last year and she did very well. Six months ago, she got admission to a local University to pursue an undergraduate degree in education. I am happy because upon completion she will live a good life and pursue her dream career of being a teacher.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge I am facing is financial constraints because doing casual jobs is not sustainable to meet my family's needs, especially school fees. The KES 200 that I earn daily is not enough. Currently, my son in the second year of University had to differ his studies for a semester because he lacked school fees. It is stressful seeing him at home even though I have done my level best.
