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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($441 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The new goal that I have right now is to buy and install a water tank in my homestead. Given the perennial water shortage in my area, this will go a long way in ensuring that we are water sufficient even when rains don't come.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly uplifts the lives of the common people. I will forever be thankful to you. My life has changed greatly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We previously did not have a toilet in the house,thankfully with the transfers,I was finally able to build one. I also bought 3 goats which I'm rearing and intend to sell in future. I'm also keen into venturing into the catering business and have done so by buying commercial kitchen utensils which i will rent out at a fee. This will supplement my income greatly. The rest of the amount I used to settle school fees for my son as well as buy food for my family. I am truly grateful to Give Directly.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($478 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 am when I had just woken up, I was outside my house brushing my teeth ready for my day's households chores. I heard my grandchild narrating how other recipients have received their transfers. He came to my house to verify my phone if I had received my transfer too. I was very happy and thanked Givedirectly for the aid since I had not had such a huge amount of money in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being able to settle all the water bills after receiving the transfer is the biggest difference in my life. Previously, I had huge water bills, something that bothered me a lot. I was worried that the water will be disconnected and the water department had already issued a notice of the same.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has been two years now since my son completed his primary education. Despite him excelling well he has not been able to enroll in a secondary school due to the financial issues that I had been passing through. I saved KES 30,000 to help me in enrolling my kids in secondary education next month. I also used KES 10,000 to settle the water bills at my house which had been pending and I was worried that it might be disconnected. Furthermore, I used KES 1500 to construct a pit latrine which I intend to complete construct once I received my second transfer. This is because we were using the bush which was very risky especially at night. In addition, I am planning to spend my second transfer on purchasing a water tank to store enough water for my family as well as sell them to my neighbors to earn an extra income.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means access to education for my nephew. I am a widow with a family of one child. I live with a nephew who is an orphan and is currently in form four. Educating this child has been very difficult because I only depend on government bursaries which are not enough to meet his educational needs( school fees and uniform). This child has consistently been out of school due to lack of school fees. As I speak, it is two weeks now since he was sent back home. Unfortunately, there are no bursaries to apply at the moment. This has denied both of us peace because I have no economic activity that I can engage in due to my old age and my poor health as well. Upon receiving the cash transfer I will use KES 40000 of the first cash transfers to clear his school fees for the whole academic year. I will then use the second transfer to buy two cows which I will keep and sell when they multiply to meet our basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last year August 2021, I was involved in a road accident that almost broke my right leg. I was rushed to a private hospital. However, due to lack of enough money, I did not receive proper medication. I was just given some drugs but I have been feeling a lot of pain that walking was difficult for me. The good news is that on December 2021, my first born son who works in mombasa came home and took me back to the hospital and received proper medical attention. This brought relief to me because now I feel much better and I can walk.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income is the main challenge that I am currently facing. Imagine being a jobless old woman with a child who depend on you. This has denied me peace seeing my nephew suffer. What makes it worse is the fact that he is a bright student and I am afraid his academic dreams are at risk. My ambition has been to start a kiosk that will help me generate an income to meet our basic needs. However, due to lack of money, this has remained a wish all those years. Receiving the cash transfers will be a dream come true for me. I will use KES 10000 of the transfers to invest in the Kiosk business to meet our needs.
