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 ($437 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?
One of my children recently completed his secondary education and very soon she will be joining college to further her studies. My new goal is to collect enough money for school fees between now and the time she will be joining college. We normally get the money through selling of farm produce and we also intent to sell goats that we are rearing to do this.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by giving support in form of cash and not anything else. This cash support coupled with the fact that the money is not conditioned makes it very easy for people to make decisions on how to spend the money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used part of the second transfer $180 to pay school fees for my children and used another $60 to buy food for the family. I then used another $170 to buy goats for rearing. I received the money at a time that the cost of basic commodities such as food was so high and getting money to buy such was hard. We made a decision to buy goats and add into our flock since they can easily multiply and help us in paying school fees soon enough. We normally rely on farming with my husband to make ends meet. The fee that we paid covered all terms including next term and we are therefore confident of having our children stay in school without being interrupted by anyone.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6 pm when I was just relaxing at home when I heard a message notification on my phone. When I checked it out I felt so happy because I have never received such an amount of money before. U was home with my children and when I informed them they were so happy too. I knew I would be able to pay the school fees because that was the main challenge that I was facing at that particular time. We planned with my family members and I went to withdraw the money the following day. I am so graft for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard.
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 have paid school fees for my two children in secondary school. This was the biggest challenge that I was facing at that particular time. My children would be sent home to collect the school fees and this was affection for their performance since they would miss some lessons. I depend on farming mostly, I plant maize and beans but this is majorly for consumption. I sold the surplus to earn an income to pay the school fees for my children. This was not enough and my children would be sent home. Currently, I have cleared all the school fees and they are studying well without being distributed. I hope to see a better performance this academy year. This has given me peace of mind to do my daily activities at home without being stressed, I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled us to achieve our dream of educating our children.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 28,000 on paying school fees for my two children in secondary school. This was the main challenge since I did not have a main source of income. My children would be sent home and this was affecting their performance in school. I would sell my farm produce but this was not enough as well. Currently, they are studying well without being disturbed like before. I am so happy because this was my biggest worry. I spent KES 11,000 on purchasing sofa set seats and tables. This was the furniture that I did not have before in my house. besides that, I spent KES 6,000 on purchasing one sack of maize to feed my family. The remaining amount of money I spent on another basic household for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean a lot in my life. I have three children in secondary school and the total school fees per year is KES 56000. Due to the current economic crisis eminating from political factors, the situation has been really tough for me. Despite the last season being fair in terms of harvests, the five bags of maize I harvested could not even cater for a quarter amount of school fees because I depend on the same for subsistence. If I become lucky to receive the transfer, I will prioritize buying dairy cow to enable me sell milk and earn daily income of KES 50 per litre of milk. I am really optimistic with GiveDirectly because I have heard of past recipients who benefited from the organization.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the recent announced Kenya Certificate of Primary Education results, I was among the happiest parents who's children performed well. My two children had hit the pass mark and happy because they have now joined average secondary school. I am grateful and I believe they will also perform when they will sit for their secondary exams. My future lies in their efforts.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The current challenges facing me and my family as a whole is buying of maize to feed my family. I exhausted the 5 bags of maize I harvested in the month of April 2022. 2kgs of maize costs KES 120 and I spend almost the same amount daily to feed my large family of 7 heads. I also buy milk daily at a cost of KES 50 per litre and my household spends 2 litres a day. I am much overburdened with these daily expenses and my only hope is the transfer from GiveDirectly.
