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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly is doing well by providing the cash transfers.I appreciate because if not for the financial assistance many of our children in my area would not be educated and food would be a major problem to many.On the other hand I wish the program would change and issue the amount in lumpsum even if for a shorter period that way it would be easy for most of us to have longterm plans achieved in short period of time.For instance if I had my first transfer of KES 50,000 in the next 2months I would be able to complete my construction project.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a casual laborer and my job entails harvesting coconut. My job is not a guarantee and in good days I may earn as much as KES 600 per day. My biggest challenge is providing food and education for my 5 children.when I received my transfer I used KES 2000 to clear school fees arrears for my 2 children in lower primary school and bought one of them uniform for KES 500.The remaining KES 500 I bought food
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The transfer was sent to me when I was away from the house. I had gone to look for casual job from the neighbouring village when I received an Mpesa message alert. I felt so happy and sincee I could not control my joy, I hurriedly came back home and shared with my wife about the transfers. She soberly advised me that we could prioritize paying school fees for our children with my transfers. I am grateful to GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life since I received my transfer is being able to pay off all pending school fee for my three children. This has relieved me from the stress of looking for fee. Consequently, upon clearing pending fees for the third term, I have been able to focus on other basic household needs such as provisions of food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had some pending school fees for my 3 children to clear although I was not sure where I could get some money. As a result of prolonged drought, it was even hard to get a casual job, a situation that made me to feel hopeless at some point of life. Therefore when I received my trasnfer, I spent KES 900 on paying school fees thus I was relieved from fee pressure. Each of the child was required to pay KES 300. The remaining KES 200 helped me in buying food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I do palm wine tapping to earn a living. I have been working as a tapper for eighteen years now since it's the only source of income that I depend on to feed my family. This work is dangerous and tiresome to do but I don't have otherwise, I plan to open a grocery here in the village when I start receiving the transfers this will give me relief and at least to have time for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I leave home at 5 am daily to search for a job. This time I feel so stressed since I don't have an idea if I will be able to get a job and earn something to feed my family. But when I get back home with the meal of the day makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a father of six children. I do tapping palm wine for a living. It's the only work that I depend on as a source of income since I completed class eight, I irregularly earn 400 KES in a day this only sustains us for food. Imagine most of the time my family runs out of food, the children are always sent back home for school fees and the unform that my children wear won't out. It's shameful and saddens my heart when I see my kids be like orphans. The clothes that I wear are torn out, the house that I sleep in is full of holes, we experience the cold nights every day. My children sleep on the ground without a piece of clothes on them. sometimes I lose hope for this life, I pit my wife I always wonder why he chose me instead. She is suffering but what gives me strength sometimes is she always comforts and encourages me during this hard time.
