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 ($462 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?
After seeing how the Kenyan government values education when it comes to employment and other positions in the government, I developed a goal of ensuring that I invest any money that I get in my children's education. Once I get money no matter how little it may be the priority is the education of my children who are still in primary school. Seeing them in the hire learning institutions is my joy.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is an outstanding and life-changing organization that empowers people to do what they thought they could not. Personally, it enabled me to buy some cows using the first transfer as well as paying school fees for my children, something that was a big challenge to me due to poverty.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I am a subsistence farmer, I needed to get a piece of land for farming. This is because the one I used to farm on is overused and it is no longer productive. Upon withdrawing the money I took KES 50000.00 and purchased a one and a half acre piece of land specifically for crop farming. The piece of land was being sold at KES 55000.00 but I did not pay the full amount since I wanted to save some amount to buy food for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 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 out collecting firewood when I received a confirmation message that I had received money from Give Directly. I had to check the message once more to be sure that it was not imagination. I had never handled even a quarter of such an amount at once in my life and this was a miracle. I could not wait any longer, so I had to rush home to share the news with my spouse.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the transfers is seeing my children consistently attending their classes. Rarely would they stay in school for a whole term without being sent back home for school fee. At times, they would stay home for a month because I could not afford their fee. Their performance in class have improved which makes me proud.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought two oxen at KES 26000 with part of the first transfer for rearing. Now that I have the oxen I will be able to plow my farm on time and plant at the right time. At the same time, I will be earning income from them since I will be plowing my neighbor's farms at a fee. My children had stayed at home for three weeks because they had not paid the school fee for the whole of that term. I, therefore, spent KES 5000 on both school fee and their school uniform to replace the torn ones that they had outgrown. Am also planning to construct a new house because the current one has a leaking roof while the walls have been washed off by the rains making it risky to stay in. I have therefore bought construction poles with part of the money. A portion of the money I spent on foodstuffs for the family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a small house which cannot accommodate all of us . I am a widow with 7 children who are still very young and in their primary school level. Paying my children's school fees is a burden to me because I depend on a small business of selling firewood to the nearest tea kiosk. Receiving this money means I will build another 1 bedroom house for my 5 male children so that they sleep alone in their house, and I remain sleeping with the 2 female ones in my house. I will set aside 20,000 KES to buy food for my family, pay my children school fees of 17,000 KES and live happly because my children will enjoy their studies without any interruption of being sent home frequently from school for sometime.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I got an assistance from Kenya redcross organization of 5500 KES for my domestic use for 2 months. I was censured at the Chief's office and I got this money in 2 months' time. This relief brought happiness and joy to me and my family because I bought food which has served my house for 2 months now.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a widow with 7 children who depends entirely on me for all their life needs. Food insecurity is the biggest challenge I am facing in my house. My children's education has been much affected and interrupted by being sent home for school fees now and then. My children have no good clothes nor good beddings and are all suffering from scabies and I do not have money to buy medicine for them. I have no drinking water in my house and we depend on salty water from the nearby borehole which are not treated and not safe for drinking. Sometimes my children suffer from diarrhoea which makes them having stomach ache now and then.
