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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is supporting and uplifting poor people in the society. At the end, I believe those people will be able to uplift others.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been a housewife for the longest time and my my husband who is the primary earner of the family is employed as a motorbike taxi rider, on a good month, he earns KES 4500. We have children in both primary and high school and some other bills to pay so this money isn't enough to pay all these bills. It's been a struggle keeping the children in school as they would spend most days at home due to school fees which really affected their performance. I spent KES 600 of my first transfer to redeem the debt, I also spent KES 2000 of my second transfer to redeem the arrears and KES 1000 to buy food for my family. I'm grateful that my children are nolonger send home for school fees and hopefully this will help them regain time lost at home and improve on their performance.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the text message at 10 am in morning. I was looking after my livestock in the field. I heard my phone ring out loudly. I did not take a keen interest to look at it at that time. Later during the day when I was headed back home with the livestock, a relative of mine called me and informed me that she had received her transfer. I quickly hung up the phone and checked my phone messages and that’s when I knew I had received my transfer too. I was very happy and I headed to the Mpesa to withdraw the money after arriving with the livestock at home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Yes, the Transfer has made a very big difference in my life. Currently, I can have two meals per day unlike before when I would have just one meal per day. I am also to buy some water for my livestock to drink. The drought has made it hard to find water. With the transfer, my livestock is in a position to drink water that I buy from the water vendors.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I received the transfer a few days away from the Christmas and New Year celebrations. It was at this very time when my kids were sitting for their exam papers. I spent KSH 500 of the transfer to pay for exam fees for my kids. I spent the remaining KSH 670 to pay for some clothes for my children. The clothes were sworn by the tailor and were part of the gifts to my children for the Christmas celebration. I am happy that they were happy with the gift and their faces were filled with joy during the celebrations.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
As a housewife I have been fully depending on my husband for everything financial. This isn't healthy and right now I'm planning to train in hairdressing with the money I'll get so that I can also support my him. I would also like to purchase some equipment that are necessary to set up my own salon when I'm done. Of late my husband has been unable to effectively pay school fees for our five children who are in grade school estimated at 1500 KES each per academic term.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was really happy when we finally bought a television set so that we can catch current affairs and get entertainment for the whole family. This was two months ago acquired on credit to be paid in instalments for about one year.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Inadequacy of food stock and water is still my biggest headache. But I think our root problem is my husbands low level of education and lack of it on my side. This makes it hard for us to get meaningful jobs that we can earn from. The same reason he's always stuck with casual jobs that are unstable and offers meager wages.
