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?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is of great assistance to me in buying food and paying school fees. The transfers is something that I would recommend they continue with. I do not have any suggestions on improvement nor any complaints at the moment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the first transfer, I used it for my children's education. The whole amount went towards school fees payment. When I received the second transfer, I took KES 2000 and bought a goat and KES 1000 was spent on food.
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?
I remember vividly on that day I was in hospital attending to my sick child who had fallen ill and needed medical attention. Emotionally I was very low as I was very worried for his health. A friend of mine whom I met at the hospital told me to check my phone and see if I had received an MPESA message. On checking I felt tears of joy as I saw my 1st transfer of KES 1200. I reconfirmed my balance and truly it was genuine. I didn't withdraw the cash until the next day as I was still in the hospital. I am planning to save up and construct a simple structure where I can set up my sewing machine and start my very own tailoring business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There before I used to do casual jobs that weren't quite consistent on a day to day basis hindering me from being able to provide for my family and also pay fees but with the GiveDirectly funds, I now am able to feed my family and pay school fees ensuring a better life for all.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Some of the basic needs had been a major issue for a while, not forgetting that my children had been sent away from school due to fees balances. GiveDirectly offered me a leeway as they deposited my 1st transfer of KES 1200 with which I was able to split KES 450 for school fees, KES 350 for clothes and KES 400 for food supplies.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means improving my tailoring business that is not doing well at the moment. Currently, I suffer a lot of financial challenges such that I can not stock my business. I have intended to spend my first 5 months' transfers (15000 KES) to buy materials for the business to have varieties of customers. This will solve the problem of financial instability in my household. The other transfers will help me to pay school fees for my children who have in most cases been sent out of school. This will make them settle and hence, improve their performances.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Hearing the arrival of GiveDirectly to our sub-location is something that brought more joy to my life. This is because I was so assured that once it reaches my household, my worries will be solved.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial instability has been the challenge that I am currently facing. Considering my tailoring business which is not reliable again, I have failed to support my 5 children in paying their school fees which is 6000 KES per term. This has stressed me a lot since I am worried that their performances will not be good.
