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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home with my husband, busy with my house duties, when I heard a message notification on my phone. I handed the phone to my husband to check, and he confirmed that we had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. We were so happy, but we didn’t rush into spending it. Instead, we decided to sit down the next day and carefully discuss how to use the money wisely.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The spending made a significant difference in our lives. Before the transfer, we faced the challenge of replacing essential household items that were destroyed in the floods. We used part of the transfer to buy a mattress, clothes, and utensils, which helped us regain some comfort and functionality in our new temporary house. In addition, the transfer allowed us to address our food needs. We bought a variety of food, including milk, which was a special treat for our young children. This provided us with essential nutrition and also brought a sense of normalcy to our family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We have two children in high school, a girl and a boy—one in boarding school and the other in day school. Their fee arrears had accumulated to $160. When we received the transfer, we were delighted to reduce their arrears by $50. We sent them back to school with only $30 between them and promised to pay the remaining balance later, though raising the funds was challenging since I rely on charcoal and my husband on fishing, which limits our income. Additionally, recently floods destroyed our household items, including utensils, clothes, and mattresses. With the transfer, we spent about $70 to buy a mattress, some clothes, and utensils. Relocating to a new temporary house felt like starting life from scratch, and food was no exception. We spent $60 on food, including a variety of items like maize, beans, rice, and others. For our young children, milk, which had been a special treat for them as they rarely get it, was especially enjoyed this time. Thank you, GiveDirectly.
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
To address the fee payment issue, I plan to allocate KES 40,000 for school fees. Additionally, I will use KES 10,000 to ensure there is enough food for my family. To replace the tent with a more permanent structure, I will spend KES 40,000 on construction. The remaining KES 20,000 will be used to purchase clothing and essential household items such as utensils and bedding, with a portion dedicated to buying clothes for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After achieving good results in primary school, I was concerned about how my son would continue his education due to financial constraints. However, in January, he received the opportunity to attend a government-sponsored school named Tuluk. This brought immense relief and happiness to our family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
After our house was destroyed by floods, my family of 9 is now living in a tent. We don't have the funds to build a proper structure. Our livelihood depends on fishing, but the daily income of KES 300 isn't sufficient to cover food expenses and school fees for my 2 secondary school children. The floodwaters swept away our household items, bedding, utensils, and the children's learning materials. Due to financial constraints, we're unable to replace these essential items.
