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?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does so well in ensuring that its recipients are well informed about its program. It invests on community engagement as well as giving recipients sufficient information about the program before the actual enrolment. Moreover, the GiveDirectly staffs also give us elaborative information on how we can safeguard our money in the Mpesa. However, since I began knowing GiveDirectly, I have not yet noticed what it does not do so well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfers to offset my son's school fees equivalent to KES 1,380. He is currently in PP1 and I am so glad that he has caught up so well with his peers. Within the shortest period of the year, I have noticed some good improvement in his studies. In addition, I spent KES 800 from the transfer to buy 2 hens which have already begun laying eggs. However, the rest of the transfer were useful to me in terms of acquiring food for my family members.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was really happy because that meant my child will be able to go back to school and catch up with the rest of the kids.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Getting Give Directly transfers is a huge opportunity for my family.
This means that, hunger and inconsistent schooling is the past for us.
I will also start doing small scale farming to create another source of income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first transfer came in just when my child was home and I had to pay her school fees arrears which was ksh1380.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My mother-in-law is a single parent and therefore, we have settled in a land which she was allocated by her father. When we lost him some few years ago, we have never had peace of mind because her brothers have fighting for the land and asking her to leave. After all, they were not happy with their father's move to allocate her a piece of land. Sometimes, it makes us feel like we are visitors who have overstayed in someone's home because we don't have a sense of belonging. My husband and I have always wanted to buy a piece of land where we can build a house and settle with our three children and our mother but financial inability has been the biggest challenge. Receiving this money means saving towards achieving our long-life goal of owning land. I'm planning to save Ksh 2000 monthly for this project.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My sister-in-law got married two months ago. I was happy that she invited me to her wedding where we danced, dined and celebrated together.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
For the last year, I have been in and out of the hospital now and then. My children have been sick for quite a long time and I'm yet to take them for a specialized medical check-up because of my financial inability.
