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?
It was around 4 pm and I had gone to my nearest shopping center to do something. While I was there, I was called by one of my neighbors who wanted to ask me if I had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. As I was about to answer the call, I saw the SMS saying that I had received the promised transfer of KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was so happy on seeing this and I confirmed to him that I had seen it. He was full of so much joy too and we thanked God and GiveDirectly for the blessing. I finished up what I was doing and I headed back home so that I could inform the rest of my family members of the good news as well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer brought a big difference in my life. I managed to buy more land and I got my certificates after having finished college and clearing the arrears in my secondary school. I am thus happy and grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25000 of my recent transfer to complete the payment for a piece of land that I had bought before. I had bought three points of an acre with some of my savings but I had not completed making the payment. I decided to buy the land because the one that I have is small and not enough to do farming. I am still planning on whether the piece of land that I bought is going to be purely for farming or I can move there with my family. I used the remaining amount on paying for my college fees and on paying the school fees arrears that I was still owing my former secondary school. I was still in college and I had lacked money for paying for my fees. My secondary school certificate had also been withheld at my school because I had not cleared the arrears that I was still owing them. I wanted to finish college and to pay for the arrears so that I could get my certificates. I wanted to apply for a job opening at GiveDirectly. I am glad that I got the certificates and I was able to do so. Thank you so much GiveDirectly for your support.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I graduated in 2017 with a certificate in Primary Education however I was not given my certificate due to uncleared school fees of KES 13000. Life has not been easy since I resorted to doing a casual job weeding people's farms to earn a living. These jobs are not consistent either especially during the dry season. So when I get this money I will clear the school fee arrears. I will then be able to acquire a Teacher Service Number which will enable me to get employment and have a better future and a good source of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Givedirectly could not have come at a better time than this, my ambition was to become a teacher but my dream hit a snag when I was not able to clear my academic fee which led to my certificate being held at the college where I studied. when I heard that Givedirectly was coming to my village it brought joy and happiness into my life since I had tried all means to get my certificate released but I could not raise the required amount. Am happy that my life will now change for the better.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. For us to get money to purchase food I have to do casual jobs weeding people's farms however currently we are experiencing dry season and finding a job is a challenge. I am a teacher by profession but I cannot get employment due to the absence of a certificate which was held back in my college due to the inability to clear academic fees.
