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 GiveDitectly does so well in supporting the most deserving people. The aspect of giving cash transfer is of great help in terms of improving people's living standard. The approach of sending transfers through mobile money helps in minimizing theft cases. However, there is nothing that I have observed that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to pay school fee arrears for my children. My children's school fee arrears had accumulated to KES 1,500 and I had began to be worried because I did not know where I could raise the whole amount at once. I am currently at peace because I am not worried about my children's school fees. As a result, I can use my other wages to buy food and meet other needs for my household members. Moreover, I spent the rest of the transfer KES 1,500 buy food stuffs which sustained my family for two weeks.
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 moment I received the transfers,felt like a miracle to me since all throughout the day I had not gotten any single coin and there was no food in my house and suddenly a message of 1200 KSHs.This really made me very happy that I immediately withdrew it and started budgeting for food since it was more pressing need at that time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life now is that I am able to plan earlier in advance because of transfers despite the challenges that I have since Covid affected my motorcycle taxi business. This transfers allow me to budget for a couple of days for example I am able to buy food for like 3 to 4 days at ease unlike before I had to earn for daily needs,now I can save what I earn and can also relax since my family is comfortable for a couple of days.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my 1st transfers to buy food worth 800 KSH since that was the most pressing need at that time and the rest paid part of school fees for my children who had been sent home countless times because of a previous debt.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I would not have picked a better time to receive this money. Honestly, it has been hard making ends meet in the past few months. I had to stop selling charcoal because I was not able to repair the motorcycle I use for transport. I have never been employed and I am more skilled in business.
I am looking forward to raring chicken with the first transfer I get. This business is not new to me, I once had around 50 of them but they were all infected and at the moment I do not have even one chicken to my name. I have learned from my failures, and I am now better equipped to start this business. I never knew that it is wise to vaccinate chickens against diseases, I did not calculate the risks but I am now wiser and I know the dos and the don'ts. I will be sleeping better at night knowing that I have a business that is profitable and seamless. A chick goes for about 150 KES, but once grown it can be sold for about 600 KES.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Joy comes when one is doing well financially, when one is at peace is a sign of joy. I am at peace when I know my children are in school and at home, they have enough food to eat. Once I have taken care of my family you will find me with my friends, playing ludo and other relaxing games.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The past two months have been tough for me. I run a small business where I sell charcoal. I have not been able to work for this past two months because the motorcycle I use for transportation broke down. I live from hand to mouth and setting some money aside for emergencies and savings is impossible for me. I am not able to repair the motorcycle.
I have a big family, seven children and my wife is expecting our eighth born. There are days I have been forced to buy food on credit with the promise of paying as soon as I have some income. Lately, I hire motorcycles from friends so that I can at least transport people and at the end of the day buy a bag of flour for my family to eat in the evening.
