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
55000 KES ($457 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have a goal of expanding my business to that of a hotel so as to increase my income and support my husband. Currently I run a small grocery shop and the little amount that I get her is hardly enough to feed my family. My husband is left all alone to look for school fees for our children. I look forward to one of our children who is now a third year student at the University to clear her education and I will be able to use the money that would have gone towards payment of her school fees to improve my business. This will increase the amount of income that I get and will give me the much needed muscle to support my husband in other key areas.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well by giving us freedom to choose what to spend the money on. It helped me a lot in terms of payment of school fees especially at a time when my husband was not feeling well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 30000 to pay school fees for my children who are in various schools and used the remaining amount to buy food and other basic household needs for my family. Without GD it would have been difficult to raise such amount since their father who normally helps in paying their school fees was ailing as at then and was not in a position to work . I rely on small business of grocery which would not have provided me with enough money to fully pay their fee in full.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my transfer, I was busy at my workplace where I sell vegetables. I can vividly recall that it was late in the evening when I heard my phone ringing loudly, upon checking I realised that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with happiness because I knew that I would be able to realise my goals. Since it was late at night, I never disclosed to anyone for safety purposes but rather proceeded home to inform my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The fact that my children are all in school studying comfortably gives me peace of mind. It is a joy of a mother in seeing her children excel. I am optimistic that their performance would gradually improve since they will no longer worry of been sent home to collect school fees. I am so grateful for the opportunity that transformed our lives and that of my people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a businesswoman and a mother of five children, School fees have been my major challenge since I have one child at the university and the other in a secondary school. This is because we all depend on my business for all our basic needs yet it is not enough. Thus I used KES 25,000 on clearing the school fees arrears. Lastly, I used the remaining amount on clothes and foodstuffs. Words cannot express the immense joy that I felt. I am thankful for the great milestone in our lives.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a mother of seven with five currently under my care. Two are in secondary schools, one in university and the other are in primary school. I love my family and I always struggle to see them acquire what is best for them. I make sure that they eat well and also go to good schools. I own only a half an acre piece of land. This is too small to do enough farming to sustain my family. I only have a kitchen garden and a small grazing space. To be receiving this money is food security in our family. I am planning to use KES 30000 to stock enough maize and another foodstuff. This is my happiness since I will be relaxed with a humble mind. I will have a good time saving some money that I will spend when I finish the stocked food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband is a truck driver working with an insurance firm. He was our breadwinner at home. In the last two years, he was involved in a road accident. It was a beginning dark moment in our family. I had to divert my attention to his medication with the little I could earn from my grocery. It has not been easy for me to support my family single-handedly. In the last six months, his health has been improving and early this month he felt he could work again. He is currently in Nairobi looking for a job. His full recovery has been my greatest joy. Besides that, I can not spend again on his medication, I am certain he will soon secure a job thus help us with our family needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge in my family. I depend on a grocery business that earns me an average of KES 200 a day. With my children in school and household needs depending on this income, it is so challenging. I do not do any farming due to a small piece of land. Food shortage has always been part of my family.
