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?
I feel the transfers are very good and I would like you to continue. As for something you don't do well, I'd say nothing; everything is fine by me at the moment.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For my first transfer, I got KES 1200. I paid KES 800 at my children's school for their fees. I have 6 children. The remaining KES 400 was spent on food. For the second transfer, I used KES 1200 for school fees. KES 500 medical care as one of my kids was unwell and KES 500 went towards food. I then bought them books and personal items with the remaining money.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
This is a moment I will never forget as I was in the farm looking after the cattle not expecting any good news at the time. Little did I know that I was to get an MPESA text from GiveDirectly. I was so happy and couldn't hold my joy that I went to withdraw the cash the same day as I was urgently in need of cash.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since getting the funds, I have been able to clear fees for my kids. Moreover, I have been able to add to food supplements and now plan and invest on small scale businesses since I have been undertaking manual jobs that aren't constant.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Thanks to the noble gesture from GiveDirectly, I received KES 1200 which played a major role whereby I was able to spend KES 900 on school fees for my 6 kids as they had been sent away from school due to arrears. The rest KES 300 I was able to add to the food supplements in the house.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means food security for my family of eight. I have been struggling to put something on the table for 11 months now. Drought has really affected my family's food production and the last time I harvested was a year ago and the harvest wasn't that good. I only harvested 3 bags of maize which served us for two months only. There is no hope that I will ever harvest again in my farm because the prolonged drought has taken away all the hopes I had before. I am planning to use 20,000KES to hire 5 acres of land in the neighbouring county for two farming seasons each acre valued at 4,000KES. I will further use 30,000KES for tilling, planting and transportation of the harvest back to my village. With five acres, I'm sure of harvesting 20 bags of maize every season. This will be enough to feed my family for a whole year and this will serve as a permanent solution to food insecurity.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My neighbours son got married in a colourful wedding three months ago. This was the best wedding to ever experience in my life and I loved everything from preparations to reception. I admired everything and left the venue with a hope that my only son will have a more colourful wedding far much better than my neighbour's son wedding.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge I am currently facing. I can no longer afford to provide my family with at least two meals a day. Prolonged drought has affected our area and nothing pleasant can be seen on the farms. The cow I relied own died a few months ago because she could no longer survive under the current drought situations. I am always in pain whenever I come back home with nothing to prepare for my children.
