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 ($421 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My dream is to provide quality education to my three children. Farming is our main source of family income and with my 0.4 acres pieces of land, I do not see myself out of the woods. I intend to lease a 2-acre piece of land and maximize food production to tap more income for the family. This will enable me to support education for my children as well as increase food security for the family.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I never thought that one day someone will think of us and give us a helping hand. We were languishing in poverty, and these transfers from GiveDirectly rekindle our hope of living a better life. I was happy that GiveDirectly gave me the autonomy to budget these transfers based on my need. How I wish that these transfers would have come every year. It will have saved us endless problems of poverty.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was struggling with unavailable clean water for my family. Unsafe water was the root cause of why most of my household members kept complaining of abdominal illness and recorded cases of amoeba. The cost of living in the family went high since we used part of our little family income to seek medication. This pushed my thoughts high and decided to purchase a plastic water tank with KES 20000 of my transfers. I manage to harvest plenty of rainwater for my family which saw our family health improve significantly. I am happy that I am no longer stressed with the huge school fees arrears for my three children in secondary school having spent KES 30000 to pay school fees.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
At the time when GiveDirectly was doing enrollment in our village, one of my daughters was about to join high school and I had exhausted the money which I had on paying part of the school fees for the other three children who were already in high school. After successful enrollment, I saw a breakthrough and obtained a loan of KES 10000 which I spent on paying school fees for my daughter who was joining high school. At the time when I was receiving the transfer, I needed to repay the loan and pay school fees and I felt so happy when I received it as it came in handy with my plans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Were it not for GiveDirectly, one of my children wouldn't have joined the high school as I couldn't afford to pay for her school fees as I had other three in high school already. I do depend on farming which wouldn't enable me to sustain the four in school. I am glad that these transfers eased my burden of paying school fees. Now I do not have much stress as it used to be before when I knew that I had no other source of money apart from struggling with farming so that I can raise money for school fees for my children. Now I took a break from such stress and got enough time to look for money for paying school fees next term.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The money I got, I spent KES 10000 on repaying the loan which I had obtained to pay school fees for my child. I then spent KES 20000 on paying school fees for my four children in high school. For the remaining amount, I spent KES 10000 on buying clothes for my children and some food items. I spent another KES 5000 on buying materials for renovating our house and the rest Kes KES 10000 on buying two goats for rearing
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I lost my husband to kidney failure in the year 2015, I was left behind as a breadwinner in the family. I am a mother of 4 children who are in various secondary schools and I have had the burden of paying for their school fees. I fully depend on casual jobs within the village where I do weeding in our neighbor's lands, this job is not guaranteed and it pays a little income of approximately KES 200 per day. The money I earn does not sustain all the family's needs like food, school fees, and clothing. When I receive money from GIveDirectly I will be able to settle my 4 children's school fees for one academic year which amounts to KES 108,000. This will reduce the burden I hold and it will pave way for me to work and save for the next academic year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My last-born daughter managed to perform well in her primary school education and she joined a good secondary school this week. This has given me hope to work harder and be able to make her dreams true of being a doctor in the future.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Being a widow who fully depends on casual jobs, proving for the family is a big problem. I have constantly thought of being a dairy farmer to earn a better living but due to the financial constraints, I am unable to own one. This will help in a big way to cater to other school expenses.
