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 well in giving financial support to the most needy people. This has in the recent time improved the living standards of our people. As a result of the transfers, I have seen a number of our community members taking their children to school, what was not possible in the recent times. Although GiveDirectly does well in how it operates, I would only recommend that it considers to give recipients lumpsum transfers. People from the neighbourhood villages who received lumpsum transfers have really achieved a lot with their transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to offset some debts I had in the nearby shop. I had taken food worth KEE 1,200 on credit when my family had nothing to feed on. The transfer therefore helped me to clear that debt thus making me be in goodbrelation with the shopkeeper. I also spent KES 1400 to pay school fees for my 5 children in primary school. This has limited the frequency at which they were being sent back home before. From the remaining KES 400, I was able to buy some food stuffs for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had never been happy in my life like I did when I received my first transfer. All my life I had never receive any money from anyone that I had not worked for. Thanks to GiveDirectly I was able to receive the transfers. I paid my Children school fees arrairs and brought some food for the family. I was ecstatic upon receiving my transfers. The transfers really elated me since I knew my worse situations would be over sooner.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life has been that of struggle. Today would have food tomorrow we don't. Today my children would be at school the following day they be chased from school. This is how life has been before we could start receiving our first transfer. GiveDirectly must be very exultant. If it were not because of GiveDirectly then my life would still be a difficult one. It was a convivial moment for me when I received my first transfer since I was assured to receive the transfer for the next 5 years. I had been jobless for a very long time as we depended on the mercies of friends and relatives. I am in an upbeat situation right now because I know my family will no longer lack food nor school fees for the next 5 years. I am no longer worried, for I believe grey skies are soon gonna clear up. There is no Greater gift we can ever give to our children other than education. Thank you GiveDirectly for not only putting a smile on my face but also to the face of my children too. Since before they were just at home but now they have reported back to school after I settled their school fees arrairs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My Children had been chased out of school due to school fees balances from the previous term that I had not settle in time. When I received the transfer I was able to pay my children school fees arrairs and they were able to return back to school. I paid KES 600 for the school fees arrairs and the remaining KES 600 I was able to buy food for the family since we didn't have enough food by then.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money from GiveDirectly means financial freedom for my family of nine. I am planning to use 45,000KES to start a cattle selling business. I will be buying goats and cows from the village at a cheaper price and selling them at the nearest trading center at a profit. My business will start with 3 indigenous cows which will cost 30,000KES and 5 goats which will cost me 15,000KES. I will later sale each cow at 13,000KES and each goat at 4,000KES. I will be doing this once a week meaning I will be making a weekly profit of 14,000KES; an amount that can help towards meeting my family's basic needs such as food and clothing. In case I fail to sell at the nearest trading center, I will take the cows and goats to the nearest slaughter house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Getting enrolled to the GiveDirectly program has brought joy in my life. This is because my compound is at the border of a neighboring village which benefited from GiveDirectly transfers three years ago. I never thought I would one day benefit from the program.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Taking care of my ailing father in hospital marked the end of my taxi business in town and this was the genesis of misery in my life. After spending four years in hospital, he died and I had to come back to the village. I later resorted to motorcycle riding, an occupation that has not been rewarding to an extent I always struggle to put a meal on the table. This is the biggest challenge I am facing to date.
