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
53150 KES ($454 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since I have been wishing to also contribute to the family's upkeep, I decided to go back to school to enrich myself academically. Where I took up a training course as a social worker and my husband supported me in paying my fees. Previously, there was a hitch and he could not raise my fee thus incurring fee arrears of KES 52000 and for one year I could not continue with my studies. But thanks to give directly, I was able to reduce the arrears by KES 20000 and I was allowed back to class. My goal is to help out my husband with cash crop farming so we could get enough funds to support my studies and two children's needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
There is nowhere give directly that has not done well. By coming up with this program to support people like myself, I believe it has done very well. I had given up on the hope of going back to school to train as a social worker. This is because I was unable to raise fees to settle the KES 52000 arrears I had and for one year I was not allowed in class. However, through the cash transfer, my dreams were restored and I am now continuing with my studies as I was able to reduce the fee arrears.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Two years ago, I went back to school to train as a social worker through the support of my husband, who is a cash crop farmer. Unfortunately, last year, I was unable to report back to class due to a KES 52000 fee arrears that I couldn't settle. His few earnings could no longer support my learning and 2 children. Even the plans of building a home for ourselves were impossible. For this reason, we continued to stay in my parents-in-law's house. So, when I got the funds, I first used KES 25000 to construct a decent family house for us. I then bought 3 sacks of maize grains for food consumption as we had run out of it. Whatever amount remained, I utilized it to reduce my fee arrears so I could be allowed back to class.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was already asleep around 9:00 pm when I received a message from GiveDirectly that confirmed the receipt of my first transfer. In the house, I was with my husband and two children whom I had to wake up so that we can celebrate the good news together. We later agreed to withdraw all the amount the next morning since we had all the plans set that we needed to spend the money on.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is my new chapter in getting back to school after such a long time. Since I got married, I had lost hope of pursuing any course to further my studies but I am glad that GiveDirectly gave me a chance to pursue a certificate course in social work. I am much proud of this and God's willing it will give me an opportunity in the job market as soon as I am done with my studies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living with my family of four in a small hut designed as a kitchen had been hard. On receiving the first transfer, we had the construction of a spacious house that would accommodate my family. I spent KES 20000 on buying iron sheets and other construction materials that have enhanced the construction of a decent and spacious house. I also purchased clothing and foodstuff for my family worth KES 10000. I spent the remaining amount on obtaining study materials and paying a part of my school fees as I enrolled in the college shortly after receiving the first transfer. I am grateful that this had to happen to my family and more so to me now that I am in school when I was almost losing hope.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When my father-in-law became sick in the year 2017, he sold part of the land which we were living in and it was in another village. It was sold to settle the huge medical bill but unfortunately, we lost him 3 weeks ago. We were forced to relocate to another land which is near his homestead and build a small hut. The hut is too small to accommodate a family of 4 yet is used as a kitchen and at the same time as the main house. Our dream has been to put up a better and bigger house using the transfer from Give Directly. At an estimated cost of KES 30,000, we intend to build a better house and live a fulfilling life. I was super excited when I learned that Give Directly was making their entry into our village knowing that our dream will soon materialize.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In the last 6 months, my husband who is a casual laborer has been lucky to get jobs to do which relate to a satiated family. He has been coming home with some cash or food and none of my family has gone to bed empty stomach and we are glad for that. Initially, there were some days when we could go to bed without eating and we were worried about our children's health; my husband could go for 2 to 4 days without getting any manual job.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
A prolonged period of drought and maize necrosis disease are the main challenges we are currently facing. Currently, we have 0.3 acres of land which we are yet to grow any crop because of delayed rainfall. We cultivated our land 7 months ago in readiness to plant maize but it has remained so because of lack of rainfall. This has given us sleepless nights wondering where we will get food to sustain our family for the next season.
