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 emergence of drought has made me struggle to provide for my family. I depended mostly on working in other people’s farms to earn a living. Currently, that is not possible because of the effects of the drought on the farms. Upon receiving the funds, I started a business selling Omena. Starting this business means I will earn a living and take care of the most pressing needs, which is hunger. My husband, who works as a casual laborer in town, is finding it hard to get jobs daily. It is through this job that I will help with some of the house expenses. Besides starting the business, I also spent the remaining amount of KSH 2500 in clearing school fees for my 4 children who were at home because of school fee arrears. I am happy that they went back to school, did their exams and I am looking forward to them posting excellent results.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Were it not for GiveDirectly I would have probably stayed and lasted way more longer in my sons house because I would not have the Money to renovate my collapsed house. But I am thankful for the funds because even at this moment the iron sheets were already installed and I moved in back to my house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the past two months I have had to live in my oldest sons house that is after the roofing to my house collapsed since it was made from dried palm tree leaves which wear out very fast. I thank God at the time it collapsed I was not in the house but it really set me back because I had nowhere to sleep and my son decided to provide me shelter for the mean time. Therefore after I received the money I quickly decided to buy iron sheets worth KES 3,000 so that I would renovate my house and move back in my home.
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 was very happy after receiving the message because I it meant that my kid would finally be able to go to school after spending almost a fortnight at home so I was so pleased that also I had almost finished my debts when it came to the school.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Getting my child an education is very important to me and so I was very thrilled that they could back and continue learning. I personally do not have any well paying job and without the financial support at times I get overwhelmed because my husband passed on years ago, and as for work I help carry water to peoples houses so that I can get paid and then feed my children and pay for their studies
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the receiving the money I went ahead and paid school fees for my child since they had been sent away for almost two weeks and from the looks of it would have stayed even longer if the money had not come in. I paid the entire KES 1200 since my child is going to sit for the national examination this year and I was trying to avoid her failing to miss class while the other pupils continued.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have four children who attend one of the nearest public primary schools. They study hard in school but raising school fees has always been a problem. I am unemployed and my husband, our breadwinner, engages in casual jobs in the village. His daily earning of 400 KES is not enough to buy food and cater for the fees. Receiving this money means that my children will get a chance at continued school attendance as I will clear the huge debt that has accumulated so far. At some point, I plan to start a small food business in the village and save the rest so I can enrol my daughter in secondary school once she clears primary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Noontime is the happiest part of my day. I have a huge debt accumulated at the school where my children go to. Every morning when they leave for school, I am worried that they will be sent back home. I am always looking over the horizon afraid that I will see them coming back home. Once it’s noontime and I haven’t seen any of them coming back home, I feel happy knowing that’s another day they have spent in school and with their friends.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am unemployed and my husband’s meagre income from his hard-to-get casual jobs is not enough to keep this family afloat. My children are bright and hardworking but I am not able to keep them in school. They are usually in and out because of the huge fee balance that has accumulated. In addition, I cannot provide adequate food for my children, something that lowers my dignity in the village. Having to lead a life full of financial constraints have been the biggest hardship ever.
