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?
Upon receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly I first decided to pay for tuition fee for three of my children because they had a debt in school fees that I was yet to settle and they literally on the verge of being sent home. I paid KES 1,000 in school fees so as to keep the school adminstration at bay while I went to look for more money. Then I decided to pay a deposit for a mortar and pestle that I planned on buying so as to pound maize before taking it to the mill. The mortar and pestle was about KES 3,500 and I opted to pay it in installments because most times I had to borrow the items from my neighbours and at times they needed it themselves thus leaving me helpless. The remaining KES 1,000 I put it away as part of my savings because I wanted to save enough money so that I could build a house for my family and I since we have no home but instead live with our relatives because we recently relocated to this village.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been spending my transfers to pay school fees for my firstborn child who is now in pre-primary 2. With the latest transfer, I used KES 1,000 to clear his fee arrears and still pay part of this year's fees. I used another KES 1,000 to buy food for my family of 3 children over the festive season and saved the remaining KES 1,000 because I want to build a new house later this year.
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?
I can do many things through chama get. Give directly is doing a good job where I get unconditional money for five years. The monthly income may be small but I can join a Chama where I can get a loan and do a big project while making the payments from this income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES.1000 on the school fees for my three children. This is because I had to prioritize my children's education who had spent the majority of the time at home due to school imbalances. It has been hard to talk to teachers to allow them to class without any money. The other KES.2000 I decided to save up to that I could be able to build my own home. This would be a dream come true which I know is now possible thanks to Give directly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was having breakfast with my husband in the morning. My husband then told me that he had received his transfer and that I should check if I had received mine. I hurriedly grabbed my phone and saw that I too had received my transfer. I was very happy that this program was real.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There is still no major difference in the life I am living but I know soon there will be some changes as this source of income is unwavering and much needed in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the transfer of money that I received, I sent money to my husband who had been called in for work and is needed to have some documents with him. They had requested things like good conduct and an NHIF card which needed money to get. I also paid for his transport this totaling everything to KES.3000. The next transfer I know I would put it in my bank account to get a loan to build a home for myself. I would, later on, pay the loan little by little. and pay little by.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Building my own house has been my ambition for the past year now. I and my mother in law live in the same house which is taboo in our culture but I don't have otherwise. My husband works as casual labor in town where he earns as little as 200KES in a day. This means it only caters to buy food for the family of nine. I plan to use the transfers to build a sizeable house for me and my three children,this will restore our dignity as family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. This time I feel at peace because sleeping on the ground on a cold night makes me uncomfortable. I always see the night to be too long.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I dropped out of school while in form two due to financial problems. My elder brother was my guardian who used to pay school fees for me, but unfortunately, his job ended. I was stranded, I was only left with the option of searching for a housemaid job until I met the love of my life. We got married in 2017 since then life wasn't as I expected it to be. We currently have 3 children and my husband depends on a casuals job that is not frequently found. He earns 200KES shillings in a day which is insufficient to sustain the family of nine, other than that we sleep in the same house with my mother inlaw which is forbidden in our culture but there is no other way because we don't have money to build our own house. We are just praying to God to protect us so that it wont affect us.
