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 ($445 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?
My short-term goal is to save money from my charcoal business and continue paying for my children's school fees. I do not pay rent which has helped me with other expenses.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The money is unconditional which makes it easier for resolving the needs I have at home. I am grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the breadwinner of the family. My husband is old and retired. I take care of the seven children alone. To get school fees and food I burn and sell charcoal for a living where I make $20 a week. As the breadwinner, I struggle a lot paying for school fees and at times, I am forced to take one meal a day to save some coin. Receiving this money has helped me pay debt and improve my house with new iron sheet.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7am while I was at the field preparing charcoals when I received a message on my phone. My class eight daughter who had accompanied me, took the phone to check what kind of a message it was since I do not know how to read. Upon checking she smiled at me and I became curious to know what the message was all about, and she broke the gospel that, I had received the KES 55000.00 transfer from GiveDirectly. I ululated in happiness knowing that my children were going to have a peaceful learning environment at school instead of being sent home regularly because of school fees. The happiness energized me and I completed the work I was doing within a short while without feeling exhausted.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially, before GiveDirectly graced my family, I was passing through hell. I was doing a tiring job of cutting logs to make charcoals for sale which is not a reliable source of income. I appreciate to GiveDirectly because through the transfers, I was able to pay school fees for my children as well as buy them some school uniforms. Since I have been sleeping outside due to lack of a house, soon I will be having one because of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After withdrawing the money, the first thing I did was buy some iron sheets for KES 11000.00, bought some poles for KES 4500.00, and other building materials. The reason for doing this was to construct a house since I had no house at all. I also used KES 10000.00 in paying school fees for my six children, one of who is in secondary school. Initially, being sent out of school due to school fees was a norm for them but since the time I received the transfer they have settled well in school. Thereafter, I used the remaining amount in buying some food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I aspire to construct a spacious house when I receive this money. I live in a small house that does not accommodate my seven children plus my spouse. Five of the children seek shelter from neighbors something that shames me a lot but I don't have an option. For that reason, I intend to utilize sixty thousand Kenya shillings to erect a three-bedroom house using mad and sticks, two for my children and one for me and my husband. Twenty-two thousand to clear school arrears for my son who is in form three, fifteen thousand to buy goats which will be my saving grace in the future, and the rest to buy six sacks of maize that will serve the family for some weeks.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My son who is in form three passed the exam with flying colors the last semester. This brought me joy and hope that despite missing some classes due to school balances he still works hard.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of food is the challenge that I face. I do small business of burning charcoal and selling and most of the time they do not have a market due to the plenty of suppliers. In a week I can make three hundred Kenya shillings which is not sufficient to feed and educate my seven children given that, my husband has a huge burden of responsibility of taking care of the family of twenty-one. Most of the time we take one meal in twenty-four hours which saddens me and gives me sleepless nights. By God's grace, this situation will finally come to an end.
