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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($438 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The challenge of paying school fees for our four children can be overwhelming at times, and they require additional sources of income to ensure consistent attendance at their classes. Given our reliance on agricultural activities, we hope to work against all odds to find a way to overcome the drought that has destroyed the majority of our crops and ensure consistent production from our farms. We hope to sell the surplus after each harvest and use the proceeds to pay our children's school fees.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly's organization was impressive from the first day of their arrival in the village to the last. Everyone appreciated the training they provided, the respect they showed each household, and the clarity of their information, which was consistent with every visiting staff member. I value the transformative support that came with the freedom to spend the money however we saw fit for our families. Nothing should be changed, even in other villages, because the approach was clear and welcomed by everyone.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my second transfer, I was struggling to keep my four children in school. Paying their school fees was a huge challenge, especially for the older one who was admitted in university. I am grateful for the prompt assistance, and I paid $300 to cover all arrears. They were relieved to be able to study without interruption, which gave me time to focus on other income-generating projects in preparation for the upcoming school semesters. I also spent $150 on a heifer to supplement the production from the two dairy cows we already had. Producing and selling milk from the two cows has helped pay household bills, and adding another cow may increase milk production in the future, generating more income that can help pay some of the school fees. In addition, I used the remaining funds to purchase household goods such as food for my family of ten, new pairs of clothes for my children, and bedding to replace the old rags we had been using.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6:30 am. I was at home taking breakfast with my family. When I heard a message notification from my phone. When I checked it I could not believe my eyes. It was a message confirming that I have received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. This was the highest amount I have ever received on my phone. I immediately inform my spouse and children and everyone was so happy. It was one of our best mornings since there was celebration everywhere including among our neighbors. I went and withdrew the money with my spouse and planned on how to spend it. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has enabled us to live a better life than before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to pay school fees for my three children in various secondary schools. This was one of the main challenges that I was facing. I depend on small-scale farming and my spouse is a primary school teacher. We combine the incomes to ensure that our children get the best education. This was not enough and sometimes our children would be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affecting their performance in school. When I received the transfer from GiveDirectly I felt so happy because I knew I would be able to pay school fees on time. Currently, my children are studying well without being sent home like before. This has enabled them to study well and I hope to see a better performance this term. I have peace of mind to conduct other daily activities at home without any stress. We are grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled us to fulfill our dreams of educating our children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30,000 to pay school fees for my three children in various secondary schools. I am so happy because they can study well without being sent home to collect the school fees like before. This has given us peace of mind to conduct other daily activities without stress. I sent KES 5,000 to my son who is at the University to purchase school items and clothes. The rest of the money I spent on household items and clothes for my children. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has improved our living standards.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We are a family of 10, composting of 8 children who are in various schools. 1 in university, 1 in middle-level college, and 3 in various secondary schools. Paying the school fees is an uphill task that requires a lot of resources. We have put aside other development matters to concentrate on them. It is a lot of work, sometimes all of them require school fees at the same time especially at the start of the year. I usually feel so bad whenever they are sent home for fees and we cannot provide them with the money. It is never easy and we struggle a lot to raise the fees. It is against this backdrop that when we receive these transfers we will use them to pay school fees of KES 73000. We will use the rest of the money to buy a dairy cow.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The last two months have been a bit easy for us. We are a big family and food insecurity always afflict us.Since the outbreak of maize disease about 10 years ago, maize farming had been a thing of the past. Sometimes in July, a new variety of maize seedlings were introduced into the market known as DK 777, we planted them and they did well and we had a good harvest in November. We have been so happy as a family since we had had enough food unlike in the past where we could buy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are farmers and mostly depend on livestock for subsistence purposes. The most problem that we face currently is inadequate disposable income to meet the needs. Approximately 95% of the income we get goes towards the payment of school fees which does not suffice to pay for all our children at ago. We have not been able to clear school fees for this term because of insufficient finances. It is so stressful and straining situation, there is no easy day for us.
