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?
While in the field tilling for my maize, I received a message on my phone at around 9 am. Lucky enough I was tilling with my helper and since I do not know how to read, I handed over the phone to him to confirm what kind of information it was. It was the happiest day ever out of home, he confirmed that the information was heart-touching. It was the promised transfer of KES 55000.00 from GiveDirectly that I had received. I felt so happy and energized hence tilled a bigger portion than what I had planned.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Sincerely speaking, the GiveDirectly transfer came at the right time when I was desperately in need of help. My children had been sent out of school due to school fees and other pending fee arrears that they had. If it were not for this transfer, I do not I guess my children would not have gone back to school because my charcoal business was not even sufficient to provide them with daily food. I am grateful for the support that I received, it made my mind settle and I am now happy that my children are settled in school.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before withdrawing the money, I did a quick plan of priorities that required immediate attention. The most important issue that I prioritized was school fees for my children bearing in mind that they were out of school due to the same. Concerning that, I opted to pay the school fees for my children so that they could resume classes. For my two secondary school children, I paid KES 30000.00 and for my six primary school children, I paid KES 15000.00. Thereafter, I bought a stock of foodstuff for my family and four iron sheets for a structure that I aim to start a shop business.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Seeing my children home because I have been unable to pay their school fees on time has been my greatest headache. In some instances, my children have been forced to miss important examinations because I am unable to pay for those exams. My husband, a retired primary school teacher failed to save enough and the big family of nineteen is now a burden to him. Education has been the only hope for my nine children and I am planning to use the entire GiveDirectly transfer to pay for my children school fees; two in secondary school and six in primary school. Doing this means they will have enough study time in school translating to improved academic performance hence a bright future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My children closed schools and are home with me. This have given me the peace of mind I have always desired because I am relieved of the worries of seeing my children sent home to get school fees.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge I am currently facing is lack of a reliable source of income to educate my children. This has made me resort to charcoal burning which is energy draining and not rewarding well. A 90kg bag of charcoal sells at KES 800 but the struggles before managing the bag is something else. Sometimes I manage to pay a small percentage of their school fees but the teachers are not understanding and continuously send my children home.
