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 ($466 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 settling the school fees for my children and equipping my new house with the second transfer, I now have a new goal to add a dairy cow to my indigenous breeds that I had been rearing. The few I have at the moment are not prolific enough in milk production and has been difficult coping with the huge expense to buy milk for my family. I hope to start accumulating my savings to be able to bring one in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did a great job to everyone who was enrolled and received the money in our village. We had the mandate to spend in all we needed most and to me, it was on school fees payment for my children and also on improving our living conditions. I am thankful that everything was perfectly done, and no one ever complained throughout the whole process.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have three children currently in school, and paying their school fees has been a challenge. At one point before the receipt of the first transfer, I had huge arrears that would not allow my children to attend any class since they would be sent home every other time. I am grateful that GiveDirectly came to my rescue and I ensured that I cleared the arrears with the first transfer and also paid KES 20000 for the current term using part of the second transfer. I also added some foodstuff with KES 360, I obtained a piece of new furniture - chairs and cupboard - for my newly constructed house worth KES 16000, and also completed the construction of a second house that I had initiated for my children to be studying and sleeping in.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my transfer, I was preparing to step out to the fields when I heard my phone ringing and vibrating loudly, Upon checking I saw a Mpesa notification message showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness, I knew that I would be able to buy a dairy which I was unable to all these years, I am grateful to have received the support from GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that my children have a roof over their heads, it was so shameful that they had to trek every night to their grandmother's place to look for a place to seep this is because I was unable to build for them a house due to the financial limitations, I was also able to clear their fees arrears. I am so thankful for the transfer that brought so much joy and happiness in life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I work as support staff in a nearby secondary school, my house is small, and we are not comfortable sharing the same room with the children now that they are growing, this forced them to be sleeping in their grandmother's place, hence I saw the need of building a separate house for them so that they can have a roof over their heads, therefore I used KES 35,000, I then used KES11400 in paying school fees, lastly I used the remaining transfer in buying clothes and foodstuffs. I am so grateful and happy that GiveDirectly lifted my living standards.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I had been lucky during my young age to have gotten education to my form four-level, however, I didn't join any college, I have lived appreciating the little I got. I always wished that I would have joined college to enable me to secure a good job that would be assisting me to meet my family's needs. To me my children education is my topmost priority thus upon receiving this cash transfer, I will spend 400USSD on my children education since I know with good education certificates they will be able to secure good jobs thus live better lives and be able to give back to us at our old age. To increase my income, I will spend another 400USSD to buy a dairy cow. I depend on dairy farming and having more milk production means more income thus will be in a better position to support my family's needs. In addition, I will use 250USSD to build a small iron-roofed house. I have small a grass-thatched kitchen where my daughters spend their nights in. This is too small for them and the smoke makes it uncomfortable to stay in. Building one for them will give me a comfy environment to call home and this is my happiness as a father. I will spend the remaining amount on my household's daily basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The afternoon just after taking my lunch is the happiest part of my day. I engage in farming during morning hours and it's only in the afternoon when I rest as I flashback on my activities before taking a nap until evening to go to my night shift job.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I serve as a night watchman at Chepkosa secondary school, a casual job that has enabled me to meet my family's needs and educate my children. Spending cold nights for more than a decade hasn't been an easy journey since I sometimes get sick and always go without enough rest but I persevere all this to have a happy family. To me scares resources in my family have put me in gold nights and unrestful days for twelve years and this has been the biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life.
