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 ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been had I not received the transfer in that I have been able to pay this year's school fees for my children. Due to this, they have never been sent back home and this has enabled them to concentrate on their studies. Also, I do not have to worry about my crops dry whenever I do not have piped water since I will be using water stored in the water tank. Because of this, I am optimistic of a continuous supply of farm produce as I will always practice irrigation during the dry season.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well by helping people without any discrimination and I do not see anything that they do not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I practice irrigation farming and we at times do not have piped water for up to a week. In order to curb this, I decided to use KES 15000 from my transfer to purchase a water tank so that I be using it to harvest water. This will be in use when we do not have the piped water hence my crops will always get enough water and I will also have enough for domestic use. Also, I used KES 37000 to pay school fees for my children. We settled as a family to clear this year's fees so that they would not be sent back home. I am now glad that they will not miss any classes because of unpaid fee. Using the remaining amount, I bought some food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was on 17th December and I had gone to visit a friend of mine. I heard a message notification on my phone and on seeing that it was the GiveDirectly transfer. With a lot of excitement, I told my friend about it and at that same time, also received the transfer. The happiness that filled the room could not be measured.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My children were able to go to school without worry of where we would get school fees and money to buy school uniform since they had outgrown what they had. From my husband's salary, we have been able to buy chicken in order to rear chicken so as not to waste it since GiveDirectly had covered what his salary could do. With the chicken, we can sell eggs or the chicken for income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I paid school fees for my child who is in secondary school and bought them school uniform. I also bought them clothes to wear at home and bought food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have three children in secondary school, and raising their fees has been tough owing to the little income that my husband gets as a security guard in one of the towns in Kenya. Hence, receiving this money means my children shall have ample study-time unlike before when they used to be out of school coming to collect arrears. Overall, they have better chances of excelling in their studies and pursuing their life goals.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a subsistence farmer, the happiest part of my day is around midday when I have accomplished my day's tasks. Timely completion of my farming tasks would increase the chances of ensuring that we get relatively enough food in our house. As a parent, I strongly understand that I am obliged to provide for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Extreme climatic conditions act as the biggest problems I have faced as a subsistence farmer. Specifically, the adverse circumstances have rendered my farms unfruitful my either destroying my crops or leading to poor yields. As a result, we have not been experiencing instances of food deficiencies in our household.
