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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The biggest challenge I am facing currently is to pay school fees for my children. I have four school going children who are in primary school. I do not have a job as I mostly work on the farm. Because of the drought, it is very difficult to get a job and work on the farm. They pay my husband who works in a maize miller company as a laborer very little. His monthly wages are not enough to pay for all our children who are in school and buy food for the family. When I received my money from the transfer, I spent half of it KSH 1500 to clear school fee debt I owed the school. The children had spent two weeks at home because of the debt. Besides paying the debt, I spent KSH 1000 in buying food for the family. The food stock in the house was over and we had nothing to eat for that day. With the remaining KSH 500, I spent it in paying medical bills for my child, who was sick and needed medical attention.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My first transfer came when school had opened.I remember sending my older daughter to school without pocket money because I had nothing at that moment.As soon as I received the funds I sent her kes 500 and paid Kes 600 school fees for the rest of my children.My second transfer of kes 1200 was spent in the hospital and kes 1800 on food.My recent transfer came when my daughter was still unwell I spent kes 2000 on hospital bills and kes 1000 on food because she was on special diet and could only ate some food.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I would not be able to get medical care. Thanks to Give directly unconditional money, I would not have been able to take my daughter to the hospital to get medical care. I also know that Give directly has nothing they need to change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With this transfer, I have been able to take my daughter to get medical attention at nearby health facilities. She has been experiencing some headaches that keep recurring even with the different pain killers she has been given. I have used up KES.2100 have medical bills which have not yet been resolved. We hope that we can find the right diagnosis and treatment for her. The other KES.900 I paid for my children's school fees so that they can go tos school comfortably.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can remember it was on Thursday at around nine o'clock. I was taking my breakfast when I saw the message confirming my M-pesa balance. At first, I thought it was sent by mistake as the name came differently. I am cannot read very well so I wondered if it was from Give directly. As I did not have anything for kids that morning to eat. Luckily someone came and confirmed that it was indeed from Vive directly and I was very much happy and felt blessed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There is no big difference in my daily life but I am thankful because I got to pay my children's school fees in time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The moment the money came in and I got to withdraw it, I felt very much blessed and went to pay school fees with KES.1200 for my four children who are in school. My husband helps out with the basic needs whenever he can.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been desired to have my land and home for a long time. The land that I am living in now is for my father-in-law which I don't have freedom at all. When I try to say anything about the land he becomes furious. Nevertheless, I planning to save money using the transfers to accomplish my ambition.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I wake up at 6 am to prepare my kids for school. When they leave I start guessing where to search for a job. Luckily when I get one around 9 am I usually filled with joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband works in the maize flour industry as a casual worker. The weekly income he obtains is 2000 KES which is insufficient for the provision of our basic needs plus education for the family of seven. I often assist him to pay some small bills when it happens to get an opportunity to work. I fetch water and supply at the shopping center but when I won't be lucky to work that day it means everything stops until he sends me money, therefore, lack of a stable source of income has been the biggest hardship.
