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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home relaxing at breakfast when I heard my phone ringing, it was around 9 am, upon checking my phone, that was when I saw a Mpesa notification showing that I had received money from GiveDirectly, I was overwhelmed with joy, I thanked God for the support that I had received, I knew all my plans would be realized now that I had the money at hand, I am happy and grateful for this wonderful gift that brought smiles to lives.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I have managed to accomplish so much that I never thought that I would have achieved in a short period, in that, I bought a dairy cow meaning that I would be able to earn an extra income from it soon. I am also happy that my children are in school now because I cleared the school fees arrears, meaning that they can comfortably concentrate on their studies. I am so grateful for the support that I was given.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my transfer, I thought of buying a cow and a goat so that in the future I would be able to earn an income, I am a farmer and currently, I make very little from the farm, therefore I used KES 26,000 in buying a dairy cow and KES14000 for a goat. I then paid school fees for my two school-going children, and lastly, I bought foodstuff that would last us for a while, I am so grateful for the support that lifted my living standard.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted my four kids to get a quality education. I was unable to give my first two kids quality education due to a lack of finances. They had to stay at home while their colleagues studied and thus got poor results. One got a mean grade of D+ and the other D. I work as a casual laborer within the village where we collect sand at River Chepkulo. Collecting the amount of sand equivalent to one trailer of the tractor is worth KES 1500 and this takes me at least two weeks. The money I get is shared among household needs such as food, clothes and a portion of it is paid as school fees. The coming of GiveDirectly has assured me that my son and daughter will now be at school full time and they will achieve good grades. This is because these transfers will enable me to pay their school fees amounting to KES 6000 for a whole year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I do household chores in the morning after taking tea with my kids who school at Kaboson Day Secondary School. After which I head to River Chepkulo where we collect sand daily for our clients in order to get some earnings.We get at least KES 250 per day after collecting a heap of gravel. This work takes us a whole day and we come back home in the evenings feeling much exhausted.The evening is therefore the happiest part of my day because I get to rest and feel happy for being able to fend for my kids.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It was on a Saturday afternoon in October 2019 when my beloved wife complained of a mild headache. I brought her some painkillers from the canteen and she felt better after some hours. Later in the evening, she still complained about the headache and said she was feeling much pain. I called a motorcycle taxi rider who took us to Tenwek Mission Hospital. She was laid on a stretcher at the reception and before she could be inspected by a doctor she called out on my name then breathed her last. The passing on of my wife has been a great challenge that I have never come into terms with. She was my pillar, she supported me in payment of school fees and in taking care of the kids.
