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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I haven't noticed anything that you doesn't do well and I want to encourage you to keep supporting the poor in the society.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I'm a single mother of three kids and raising them through casual labour mainly selling firewood and water has not been a smooth journey for me. Imagine going for around 20 kilometers to look for water only to come back with a 20 liters jerican and sell it for KES 30! Having to cut firewood far away from home in the hot sun only to sell a bundle at KES 50, it has not been easy. My youngest child fell sick in January and I had no money to take him to the hospital, I was worried because his health was detororiating and I didn't know who to turn to. It felt like the transfers were heavenly send because they were send when I needed them the most because I needed to take my son to the hospital and by food for the other kids. I spent KES 1400 of the transfers to pay for medication and KES 1600 to buy food for the family. I'm so grateful for the support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I saw the message of the transfers in my phone, my worries reduced. I felt relieved. This is because my son needed KES 600 for his school fees. I was eagerly waiting for the money. I waited for my daughter to come home from school in the evening and sent her to withdraw the money immediately. That day we had tea, something that is very rare here at my home because sugar is very expensive.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life now is that I have some peace of mind. Though not much, but I know with time things will get better and better as I continue receiving the transfers. The peace of mind is brought about by the fact that food will no longer be a worry. My focus is now on getting money for school fees especially now that my daughter will be doing her final exams next year.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Once I received the money, I split equally into two; KES 600 for school fees and KES 600 for buying food. I now have school fees arrears of KES 50 which I hope to clear when I receive the next transfer. My two main challenges have been food and paying school fees for my children. This program will help me a lot .
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been struggling a lot to feed my family and pay school fees for my children over the past six years. We separated with my husband and I took the children with me. I tried taking up domestic work in Mombasa but it didn't work out for me, finally, I had to come back home. Since I got here, I have been just pulling odd jobs mostly ferrying water for others to earn about 200 KES every day. This isn't enough to feed my family and pay school fees for my children. I know I'll be able to do this and even rent a piece of land to do some subsistence farming with this transfers.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was really happy when my child who is working in Mombasa sent me 2000 KES last month. At that juncture, I had run completely broke to an extent that I couldn't afford even one meal a day. I managed to buy foodstuff that fed my family throughout the rest of that month.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Joblessness has always been my biggest challenge since I came back home. It's been a lot of struggle pulling odd jobs like ferrying water for other people for payment. But even this can only earn me 200 KES a day, meaning I still have to beg to top it up. I believe with this transfer I'll be able to start substance farming to overcome this situation.
