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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a bright young man with an ambition to do an electrical engineering course. Although I had been longing to join a tertiary institution of learning, I always experienced financial challenges. Currently, I live with my mother who is not only a widow but also advanced in age. She is unable to engage in any hard labor to earn money for my school fees, but instead, she relies on our support. When I began receiving my transfers, I decided to save them to raise my college fee of about KES 100,000. I am optimistic that my studies will help me to acquire skills in electrical engineering that will help me to be self-dependent.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly does very well through this cash transfer project which will help in improving my life and that of the people in my community.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before I started receiving the funds, I had accrued debts of ksh4500. The earnings that I get from my janitorial job at a pharmacy are quite low. In a day, I only earn ksh150. This has made it hard for me to clear the debt. So, I used my two transfers to settle the debt and the remaining ksh1500, on food expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home on that particular day. I was preparing myself to go out and look for work when my phone rang with a notification. When I went to check, I saw that I had received the money from Give directly and I was so happy. Thank you Give directly for this oppo.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I can clear my debts and start afresh. I also plan on going to college by saving up the money transfers I am receiving from Give directly. This will help me be able to support myself in the future by starting my own business or even getting employed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This money I decided to pay my debt I had gotten from a friend who had begun harassing me as I had not been able to pay any part of it. I took out KES.2500 and paid him. This was decided because I knew that I didn't want to feel even more guilty if I would spend the money on myself yet this person had gone out of their way to help me financially. The other KES.500 I used to buy food. This would help out to not go to bed hungry on most days after a hard day's work. Thanks to Give directly I am now debt-free.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I finished secondary school level in 2017. Having lived with only my mother who is a widow and jobless, she could not afford to take me to college, a dream that I longed for. GiveDirectly transfers will be timely, and I plan to save them for a year so that I can have enough money to start my Electrical Engineering course.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My strength not to give up in life despite the challenges makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Upon finishing standard 8, my brothers denied me the opportunity to join secondary school level. It was frustrating, seeing my mother begging them to offer a helping hand. I decided to look for work in town to raise money for my secondary school level. I went through child labor because by then, I was just 14. It was after 4 years of hustle that I managed to go back to school, of course not as fresh as it would have if I were to join straight from the primary. It hurts me when I remember that, and I usually feel I would have scooped a higher grade than what I got.
