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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($480 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do not have a new goal, I had planned on paying the university fees for my two children and renovating my house. These were the topmost priorities that I had.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The training was done so well and the registration process was perfectly done without any discrimination. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 50,000 on paying university fees for my two children in the University. This was the first priority since I did not have any other source of income. I was struggling to raise money through small-scale farming and casual jobs in the village. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly enabled me to pay the fees on time. My children are studying well now and they are so happy. I spent the rest of the money on renovating my house. I am so grateful because I was able to fulfill my dream.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was grateful for the first time to receive such a huge amount of money at once in my account. I was alone at home that morning attending to my usual chores when I received the notification message. In my mind, I had one main agenda to settle school fees for my two children one in college and the other one in secondary school. I had to plan on collecting them the following day so that I could pay all that I had allocated to the school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the peace of mind I am currently enjoying after meeting all the school's financial obligations for my three sons and a daughter. As a single mother, it had been hard meeting the deadlines but GiveDirectly has made it possible for me this time and I am so grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On receiving my first transfer, I paid all the school fees for my children totaling KES 40000. This amount covered the full term and I am glad that my children will not be sent home again but will get ample time to study for their final examinations. I also improved the interior look of our house by obtaining a new floor carpet at KES1500, new lighting equipment, contributed KES 5000 to the church construction that is currently going on, and used the remaining amount on buying foodstuff for my children. I am glad for the great steps I have taken over the few weeks after receiving the transfer and I am looking forward to greater spending once I receive the second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am widow and am taking care of four grandchildren because their parents passed on 6 years ago. Considering that I only depend on farming as a way of living, this has been difficult on me. I earn on average KES 150 per day from selling milk and I hardly get money to pay for their school fees at thesame time cater for other basic needs such as food and clothing. Receiving this money will mean that my eldest grandson will go back to school and finish his university education after he dropped out from in 2019 due to lack of school fees. I plan on spending KES 100,000 from of the transfer to clear arrears and pay for one semester fees. This will relieve me of a very big burden.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is always in the morning because it is at this time that I feel strong and energized. Since I am getting old and feeble, the main duties that I engage in from morning to evening is the normal household chores like preparing food for my family, fetching water and firewood which makes the day tiresome for me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life. Being the sole provider in my family and having grandchildren to raise is not easy. Due to age, I started being sickly and was forced to close down my clothes business 4 years ago to stay home and farm because it is less tedious. This greatly reduced my daily earnings and it has been tasking to cater for school fees for my grandchildren in high school and university.
