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?
I am very grateful to GiveDirectly for this program because it came to our aid in so many ways that I cannot explain and not just money wise because lacking the funds to provide was very stressful and made me feel depressed especially during those times I felt like I failed as a parent when I could not provide a meal or failed to pay for school fees. But now I feel less emotional torture when it comes to such issues because I no longer feel like my hands are tied.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When i got my first transfers I went ahead and bought Sardines worth KES 500 which I used to start my business with, and the used the KES 650 that was left to buy packets of maize flour and laundry detergent. Now as for my second transfer, three days prior to receiving the money three of my children had been kicked out of school due to pending balances in tuition fee, so when I received the money I handed the KES 1,000 to pay the school and the next day they were back to class. Then I took KES 690 and bought six packets of maize flour so we would have a meal in the house. I also used KES 500 to purchase new school uniform for my son since the ones he previously had were old and in tatters. Other than that, I also bought two chicks at KES 300 so that I breed and start poultry farming, then used KES 100 for laundry detergent, KES 250 I used it and took one of my kids to seek medical attention since the fell ill and lastly used KES 100 to buy body oil.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8am when I was getting ready to pay my daughter a visit after getting some information that she was among the lucky people to get a bouncing baby girl the previous day, when I saw the message envelop on the screen of my phone. Since it was my habit to enquire anytime I see such envelops, I called my helper to see what kind of information was in the envelop. When she revealed that I had received the first transfer from GiveDirectly, I was very happy because I knew I had been accepted in the GiveDirectly program for the next five years.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially I was practicing entrepreneurship by owning a small business of selling sardines. This was the only source of my income that I relied on until the drought season stroke us when I had no alternative than consuming even the capital and that marked the death of my business. Now the difference that I can attest is that through the transfer that I received, I was able to revive my business and I hope it will flourish.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the money I didn’t look at how minimal it was, instead I reshaped my priorities. Since I have three primary school children and I do not ha a defined source of income, I opted to reduce the fee balance so that they can be retained in school for learning. In that regard, I paid KES 500.00 school fees for them. Thereafter I took KES 150 and bought some body oil for them so that they can also look good when going to school to avoid stigmatization from other children. Looking at the hunger situation i used KES 400.00 of the remaining KES 500.00 and bought some maize floor for the family and the used the remaining KES 100.00 to revive my sardine business which had collapsed sometimes back after using the capital to buy some food
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been surviving mostly on cow milk when I do not have food, and also trading on it to buy other things I need. But I personally do not have cattle of my own and have been just keeping other people's under some local arrangements where I'm suppose to look after them and get such benefits. I feel this is something I would love to do and so I'm going to buy my own. This way I can still benefit while the animals are also store of wealth that I can resell when need be.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It's been hard times over here since the onset of this draught and so there's very little to smile about. But in the recent days I have been feeling a lot of of warmth with this prospect of joining Givedirectly's cash transfer project. This makes me happy because I will be able to revive my fish selling business, effectively pay school fees for my three children and generally take care of myself.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
This prolonged draught has been the source of all problems to an extent that getting water is such a big problem. I always have to travel about five kilometres to get to the nearest pond where I can fetch cleaning water, but it's not safe for cooking. We still do another five to get to the next water point where a safer tap water is available for sale.
