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 ($441 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?
Yes definitely, my new goal is to purchase a motorbike. This will help my spouse in transporting our charcoal to the market on time. Currently, he is forced to hire one from our neighbors in order to transport them to the market which is relatively costly. Owning a motorbike be a great boost to our charcoal vending job.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well in helping the poor house in the community. Enrolling every eligible household in our village was such a nice thing. I wish it would continue to support the poor house in our area.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Supporting the education of my 5 children is the biggest desire in life. At the moment, two are in secondary school and the others are in primary school. After receiving the transfer, I spent KES 22,000 to pay part of the fee arrears of KES 41,000. Currently, I am happy that they are learning without any interruption something that has restored the happiness that I have been missing. Furthermore, I spent KES 21,000 to purchase proper bedding for the family since we were sleeping on the floor with old rags. Our skins were constantly infested by maggots and lice which disrupted our nights. Sleeping on proper bedding with the family after acquiring new ones has made our lives better. With the remaining, I bought enough food for the family of 11 members since we did not have enough food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
My mobile phone rang out loudly immediately. I arrived at my house from fetching water in a nearby water pan in the morning. I checked my phone and realized that I had received my first transfer. I went into the house and shared the good news with my husband and we both smiled and knelt down and murmured a short thanksgiving prayer to the Lord.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I felt ashamed and was even afraid of walking around the village because of the fear of people talking behind my back about the debts I owed. Paying all the debts I had using the money from the transfer has made a big difference in my life. I can now confidently wake up and walk everywhere in the village. Paying the debts has restored my dignity in the community.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Both my husband and I work as casual laborers selling charcoal. We earn very little from the sale of charcoal due to the low demand. The lack of an alternative source of income has made it difficult to cater to all our family needs (school fees, food, and clothes). As a result, we currently survive on one meal a day because of the lack of enough money to buy enough food to feed the family. My children are often sent home due to school fees arrears that have accumulated for over two years. When I received my first transfer, I Spent KES 15000 to pay off school fee debt for my 6 children so that they would be readmitted back to school and continue with their studies. I spent KES 12000 in repaying a debt I had incurred when I bought food on credit during the Corona pandemic. I spent a small portion of the transfer on buying some clothes for my children who survived on a pair of worn-out clothes and I had no money to buy them new clothes. I spent the remaining amount on buying food (12 packets of maize flour, 2kg of sugar, 2kg of beans, and a 500gms of tea leaves) in bulk for my family so that they would no longer starve.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have two children who are in primary school, doing their final exams this March. Receiving this money means continuity of education for my children. I did not go to school but I believe education is the key to success, I am amused to get this financial aid. I had no plan of them joining secondary school but this is the chance for them. I intend to enroll them in the nearby secondary day school with the first transfer. I intend to buy 10 goats to rear as an investment for my family in the future. With the remaining amount, I will buy food that can take us up to the farming season.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have nine children in my family, staying healthy gives me joy. My neighbors tend to be on and off to the hospital but I thank God, my family is well even if we take one meal per day. I feel happy giving attention to them when they are at home.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband was a truck driver, he used to transport charcoal to the town center. The government abolished the selling of charcoal because it caused drought. They rendered him jobless and opted to do grazing other people's cattle at a fee. This gives us revenue of 3500 KES per month which is not sufficient to cater for food and medical care. My nine children have now been starving going for one meal per day which makes their immune system prone to diseases. This bothers me mentally on what can happen to them when there is an outbreak.
