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 ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I had planned on purchasing a water tank. This is because I used to walk for quite a long distance to collect clean water for domestic uses. This was consuming much time and it was tiresome. When I received the transfer I decided to purchase a water tank and currently I no longer stress about where to get clean water. I did not have a new goal that I did not have before receiving the transfer because all the activities I did I had planned.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The enrollment process was done fairly and most of the people who received the transfer spent it well. Some build better houses while others paid school fees for their children in various schools. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 21,000 on purchasing a water tank for storing clean water for domestic uses. This is because I used to walk for a long distance to collect clean water. This was so tiresome and time-consuming. I had always wished to own a water tank but I did not have the money. Currently, I have enough water for domestic uses and I have saved time to do my other chores and home. I bought some buildings materials and build a better and more spacious house for the family. We used to live in a small house that could not host all my family members comfortably. Currently, I have a decent and spacious house and I feel so happy and grateful since this was one of my biggest dream fulfilled. I paid KES 6,000 school fees for my two children in secondary school. KES 3,000 each. They were able to study well without being disturbed. I hope to see a better performance this term. I am so grateful for the support because were it not GiveDirectly all this could not have happened on time.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was exactly 9.41pm while heading home from my tailoring work when I heard an SMS alert on my phone. On checking, it was KES55000 from GiveDirectly and I was very happy but kept as a secret from envious people who didn't get the transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is happiness because I have cleared my kids school fees for this term.I have also built a better house within the shortest time possible which wasn't possible before due to school fees burdens. I normally rely on tailoring work which I have for the 16 years for school fees and food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES30000 on building a 24-Iron roofed semi permanent house because the one I had was old and tiny. I also spent KES 11000 on school fees payment for my daughter in high school.I also spent KES12000 on a young bull because it grows fast and can be sold in exchange for a dairy cow.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My dream to own a business has finally seen the light of day. I am a tailor by profession and I make and sell school uniforms in a nearby town but the business belongs to a friend who hired my services so that she can help me to pay school fees for my two children in secondary school. I have sacrificed a lot to work in this business because sometimes it makes a lot of money but I get the least because the agreement has always been that the owner pays my children's school fees. One month's income in this shop is enough to clear fees for a whole school term of 3 months. I will therefore use these transfers to set up my shop and in the next two months, I shall be self-reliant making an income of KES.10,000 on average every month. This will bring a long-term change in my life and I appreciate your support.
What is the happiest part of your day?
There has been so much that has happened in the last six months. I was diagnosed with a serious skin disease in April and it cost a lot of money to treat it, thank God I had medical insurance cover which catered for the bill. The disease had worried me so much because I handle clothes and I had to stop working until recovery. My employer supported me through the period and never penalized me for the one month I did not go to work. This gave me a lot of happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am happy that my children are in school without any fee arrears currently but I'm struggling so much to run this business that I am employed in because it does not meet all my needs. I have no peace of mind at all and I have had sleepless nights thinking about how I can be able to start my own. I usually buy milk in my village and sell it in town every morning as I go to work so that I can get money to sustain my other needs but it is so straining and I rarely get time to even get enough rest which is affecting my well-being.
