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
55000 KES ($457 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Payment of school fees for my two children had been a challenge that the two transfers I received from GiveDirectly could not fully solve. After spending a huge part of the transfer on the piece of land that I bought, I am yet to conceive other ways to raise more finances to pay the tuition fees for my children. It is a relief that my elder daughter is currently in her final year in secondary school - a sign of a reduced burden in paying for the remaining one.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Monetary support from GiveDirectly was a unique support none ever got before. Planning and spending on the challenges faced in every household were simplified, unlike if they had given us material goods. I am grateful for the support that was timely and enough to salvage me from the struggles I had been undergoing in the previous months. I have no complaints and have never heard anyone complaining since they met all the promises at the exact timelines the field officers gave us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the second transfer, I had a piece of land that I was eyeing n the neighborhood and had to make the first payment since the owner was auctioning it then. A fifth of an acre is KES 90000. This swept all my savings accounts, combined with the second transfer to meet the entire cost. I had been living with my family of four on a small piece of land, and buying the extra piece will be useful in improving my farming practices to enhance sufficient foodstuff, and a surplus produce for sale in the future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home relaxing after a hard day's work when I received a message notification on my phone. I became so happy after reading the transfer as I immediately knew that my life was no longer going to remain the same again. When I remembered that my children would be sent back home any day because of the school fees arrears that they had, I could not waste time waiting to go and cash it out.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was able to clear fee arrears for my children using part of the transfer. Because of this, they were able to concentrate on their studies and sat for their examinations. Nothing makes me happy and feel satisfied as a parent and due to this, I am no longer feel stressed most of the time and I am glad that my health is continuing to improve.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a single mother of two and I have been depending on dairy and subsistence farming to educate my children and to provide basic needs for my family. Building a more spacious kitchen for my family was our priority once we received our first transfer since we had been using a section of our sitting room as our cooking place. Due to this, our living room was always full of smoke and I used to feel ashamed welcoming people to my house when I am cooking. I am glad that with KES 25000 from the transfer, I was able to buy all the necessary building materials and paid the full cost of labor. In addition, I spent KES 15000 to pay school fees for my two children to avoid them being sent back home and used the remaining amount on food and clothes for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My entire life, I have depended on the maize business to educate my 4 children all through their secondary education. Unfortunately, life took another angle when Corona struck the country in 2020. I shut down the business because I was running into losses hence concentrate on rearing livestock to earn income. Since my 3 daughters got married, I am remaining with my last born son who joined grade 9 in 2021. It has been a struggle paying his school fees since the KES 120 I earn daily, from the sale of 3 litres of milk is insufficient. It pains me that he is mostly sent home to collect the arrears, which I occasionally do not have at hand. When I receive these transfers, I intend to use KES 20000 to pay my sons school fees for the next 2 years. I will be grateful that he will have uninterrupted learning sessions hence prosper and be able to depend on himself in future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is the joy of each parent to see her children get married, have a family and live happily thereafter. I was excited when my third-born daughter broke the news to me that some friends of hers will be visiting shortly. I did not know who they were but my guess was right! Her fiance was coming. She got married in August 2021 and I pray to God that they will live happily.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Paying school fees for my son in grade 9 is a challenge I am currently facing. When the pandemic struck the country in 2020, I ran into losses to a point that I had to close down my maize business in Chebunyo. I resolved to rear livestock to support my family of 2 of which I earn KES 120 daily from the sales of milk. However, this income is insufficient to clear KES 10500 fees for the entire year and he has to be sent home frequently. When I see him at home while his peers are at school, I feel disappointed for I have failed as a parent.
