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
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?
So far I am satisfied with the milestones that I have achieved courtesy of the transfer that I received, It has been of great impact on my life. I don't have any new goals at the moment due to the school fees responsibilities. I am so grateful for the funds that came at the right time of need to improve my life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Receiving money from GiveDirectly has been of great significance in my life, our living standards have been uplifted to a more higher and admirable standards. The transfer was given out without any form of discrimination. On my end, I have not witnessed anything that was not done well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
School fees have been the biggest baggage that I have been carrying. I was forced to take a loan of KES 100,000 which, unfortunately, I was unable to repay due to school fees and other responsibilities since I am a mother of eight children who are all schooling yet I depend on my business which is barely enough to cater for all our needs. At some point, I almost gave up but the transfer came at the right time of need, thus I was able to settle the loan of KES 70,000, where I topped up KES 27,000 from my initial transfer plus KES 43,000 for the second transfer. Secondly, I used KES 12,000 on paying school fees. I feel that a heavy burden has been lifted off my shoulder thus I am forever grateful for the financial support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly I was at the farm, My neighbour informed me that he had received money from GiveDirectly, I immediately rushed to where my phone was so that I could confirm if what I was told was true, My phone was off at the moment, upon switching it on, I saw a Mpesa message confirming that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly, words cannot explain how happy I was, this was the best thing that had happened to me in my entire life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that my children are studying comfortably in school without worrying on been sent home to collect school fees, I was unable to pay their school fees on time because of financial constraints, I also had a loan of KES 12,000, which I was unable to pay before, but I am relieved that, I managed to clear the loan with the transfer money, GiveDirectly gave us a hope of a better tomorrow, our lives have been impacted greatly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a farmer and my husband is a local businessman in the village, The transfer came as a very big relief in my life, this is because my children had been sent home to collect school fees yet I had no cash at hand, I depend on farming to earn a living but with the unpredictable weather patterns the yields were unfavourable, I, therefore, used KES 10,000 in paying for the school fees arrears, I then decided to pay a loan of KES 12,000, to stop it from attracting more interest. lastly, I bought foodstuffs and clothes, I am grateful for the support that changed my living standards
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means my burden of paying school fees has been lifted off my shoulders. I have eight children, four in secondary school and I pay up to KES 50,000 a year inclusive of other needs like personal effects for them. Being a small-scale farmer and my husband a chicken vendor, it is hard for us to meet all these needs at the same time. With this money, I plan to pay my children's school fees of KES 45,000 for the whole year. For the rest, I will renovate our old house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The afternoon is the happiest part of my day when I'm back from my farm after weeding or planting depending on the season. I get to rest after taking lunch and it makes me happy that I have accomplished that day's work and in the long run gives me a meal.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The hardship is a lack of finances. Two years ago I took a loan of KES 100,000 to buy a motorbike so that my husband could do business with it. We had high expectations that the returns will enable us to cater to other needs as well as pay back the loan. However, the business went down and we are now struggling to pay back. The proceeds from the business is not enough , so we are forced to forego other needs like renovating the house in order to meet other needs like school fees.
