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 ($467 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?
My new goal is to start a motorcycle taxi business and to find a way to get money for paying school fees for my six children. I want to start the business because I know that I am going to make good money especially when I am the one operating it. I will be able to get enough money at the end of the day for buying food and I can save some for paying school fees for the children. I am a single father and by doing so, I will no longer have to engage in any casual job available to earn a living.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is doing well by allowing people to decide on their own how to spend the transfer money. They do not dictate to you how to spend it. It is also good that they are independent and they do not affiliate themselves with politicians or religious groups. I hence do not see anything wrong with their way of work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the recent transfer money on buying some things that were missing in my household. I bought sofa sets and their cushions at a total cost of KES 10000. I also bought a mattress and new clothes for my children. They had for a long time wished to have new fashionable clothes just like their friends but I did not have the money to buy them. They are thus very happy having gotten the new clothes. With the remaining KES 30000, I used it in paying for their school fees. I subdivided it among them. I have three children who are in secondary school, and three in primary school. I was not able to complete making the payment but the amount that I still owe the schools is little. I am so much grateful to GiveDirectly for their support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($487 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 9:17 am and I was at home taking tea. I had just arrived from my night shift job as a watchman. As I was taking tea, I decided to pull out my phone from my pocket to check it. I scrolled through the phone and as I was doing so, I received a mobile money SMS and I opened it. I could not believe my eyes when I saw that the SMS was saying that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy that I left the tea that I was taking and I went to my mother's house. I went to tell her that the money had been sent but she could not believe me. Her phone was switched off and when we switched it on, we received the SMS. She was so happy on learning about the good news and we celebrated together because the money was going to make a big difference in our lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer has brought a very big difference in my life and that of my family. I was able to buy a cow that I had always wanted. I milk one litre which we use for our consumption. I thus no longer incur the cost of buying some. This is all thanks to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my first transfer on buying a cow. I bought a cow worth KES 3000. I decided to buy the cow because I usually buy milk. This is costly to me because I am casually employed as a watchman and I have to buy one or two litres of milk daily at KES 35 per litre. Although I had always wished to buy a cow of my own, I was not able to because I didn't have the money. There was a milk co-operative society that had been formed in our area but unfortunately, it collapsed. I had invested a lot of money in the SACCO. We were not compensated after it collapsed and hence our money got lost. I lived to regret it because the money could have helped me in making other developments such as buying a cow. I am however grateful to GiveDirectly because they enabled me to realise my dream. I hence no longer incur the cost of buying milk.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a widower, the sole breadwinner for my family of 8, yet I do not have a reliable source of income. This has forced me to struggle a lot to fend for my family and educate my children. I have been having sleepless nights due to the worry that some of my children might drop out of school owing to the lack of fees. As such, receiving this money will be a sigh of relief for me and a surety that each of my children shall pursue their education (since I will raise the needed fees). Specifically, I will use about KES 20000 on paying fee arrears for six school-going children. After that, I shall acquire a cow at approximately KES 30000 since my young children need milk for consumption. Further, I will use any remaining amount on improving my crop farming to attract better yields for consumption and sale of any surpluses.
What is the happiest part of your day?
About three months ago, one of our local leaders granted us KES 30000 that we used to clear fee arrears that had accumulated. This attracted lots of joy for me and my family because we could not imagine paying off the needed money. Subsequently, my children are enjoying ample study time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The first challenge that we are facing as a family is the relatively small piece of land (0.5 acres) that we reside in and do farming. We have been struggling to survive as a subsistnce family since the piece of land cannot accommodate us, crops and livestock. Secondly, I feel much pressed by huge financial demands as evidenced by the massive fee arrears. Having no job or business to attract some income is making my life a lot difficult. Further, I find life to be much harsh on me especially after losing my wife to Tuberculosis about five months ago. This has left me with the burden of fending for my family alone.
