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
53150 KES ($442 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I do operate a motorcycle taxi business at the moment and as it is now the business isn't doing well. I am thinking of starting up a second-hand clothes business so that I can generate income to support my family. Now I have means of transport, it will be easier for me to move from one market to the other. That would help me to save on transportation costs and maximize profit.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly taught us to have a plan before we received the money. I believe that were it not for such teaching people would have misused the money. That was what GiveDirectly did well.
On what was not done well, I didn't notice anything that wasn't done well with this organization.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
At the time when GiveDirectly was enrolling us, I was struggling to pay school fees for my spouse who was upgrading her teaching course. I had sold our diary cow which we had so that I can raise money for her school fees. When I got my second transfer, I spent KES 50000 on buying a lactating dairy cow which is now in calf. We now have milk for use at home, I am happy that I replaced the one which I had sold.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 Am when I received a call from my brother. He was telling me that he has received the transfer. When we were done speaking I checked my phone and actually there was a message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly too. I felt so happy and immediately called my spouse who is in college. She was so happy too. I operate a motorcycle taxi and at that moment I was in town. I withdrew the money and went back home. This was one of the happiest days in my life. I knew I would be able to pay college fees for my spouse.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Paying college fees for my spouse is the biggest difference in my daily life. I am a motorcycle taxi operator and through this I save some money for her school fees and to feed the family. This was a challenge for me because at some point I was not able to clear the fees at once. I was so stressed because it was around the exam registration date and I did not had the money to pay. When I received the transfer from GiveDirectly I felt so happy and grateful. The first priority was to clear the school fees and ensure that she is able to sit for her exams. Currently she is studying well without being disturbed. I have peace of mind to conduct my daily routine knowing that everything is going well. I will have time to save some money for food and foe the next academic year. I am so grateful because GiveDirectly has enabled us to fulfilled our dreams.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 28,000 to pay school fees for my spouse who is in college. This was my main concern because she wanted some money for exams fees. I am so grateful because she was able to book the exams on time. This could have been quite a bit challenging. I spent KES 13,000 to renovate my house to look decent. This is what has always been my wish but I had no money. I was able to purchase the require material and renovated the house. The rest of the money I spent on food and clothes for my children. I am so grateful for the support.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My wife is a trained primary teacher. Recently, there was a change in curriculum and they were required to undergo a Curriculum Based Career development training.She has been teaching at the nearby Labotiet primary school under Board of Management terms. To be employed as a teacher by the government, it is a requirement that she must have undertaken the said course. It is against this backdrop that she had to go back to Kenya Teachers Training college where she now pursue the course. This has come with a cost of KES 66000 which is a tall order for me to raise. I have had sleepless nights pondering where I can raise the amount. This help could not have come at a better time than this, I intend to clear the outstanding balances of KES 40000 and use the remaining amount to buy a dairy cow since I sold the one I had towards the payment of school said fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In May last year, I started building an iron-roofed house for my family which took a long time to complete because of inadequate finances. I had intended to finish early for the occupation since the one I had is small and seeps water. It was a culmination of the struggle that I was able to move into the new house on Christmas and we were overjoyed by the achievement of living on a decent house.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Aside from raising the school fees another challenge I face is repaying the loan I took from Watu credit to purchase the motorcycle. I still have an outstanding loan of KES 140000. Normally, we have arrangement where I am required to repay KES 400 per day. Sometimes when business is bad I cannot be able to raise enough to repay for the day and I feel so bad about it. Fuel has also become so expensive and has significantly reduced the profits I make per day. Other times there are wear and tear which also greatly reduces the cash flow. If I default on payment even for a day there is a risk of the motorcycle being returned and that means forfeiting whatever payment I would have made. It is never easy.
