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 ($442 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to be able to keep paying school fees for my children with the hope that they will be able to have better living standards in future. I am a widow and a mother of 7 children and my hope is to be able to raise enough money through my small business to be able to take all of them through their secondary education and even more. I am happy that givediretly helped me pay the fee but I am alive to the fact that I still have a lot of work to do.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well by giving us money and the freedom to choose what to spend the money on. Looking at how the money has helped me makes me so happy. The house that I was able to put up for my family too has brought so much joy to us as a family. I am looking forward to achieving even more going forward.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 25000 to pay school fees for my two children, used another KES 10000 to pay for my son's initiation fee and the remaining amount was used to build a new house. I am a widow and a mother of 7 and the greatest challenge that I am currently facing is payment of school fees. I engage in small scale business of selling vegetables but the amount of money that I get from it is just enough to buy food and maybe meet other minor needs of my family. This money therefore came at a time that I so much needed it to accomplish the things that I did. I I am also very happy that we now have a new house as our home . With the big family, we have been living in a very small house that could not provide us with the much needed comfort but at least now we have a new house and my family is generally happier.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6pm while relaxing at home when I heard my phone ring. I checked and confirmed to have received KES55000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and grateful to GiveDirectly and God because I had never received such a lump sum before.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is relief from casual labor because I now have a dairy cow which can comfortably feed my family. Since I got married I had never milked a cow but GiveDirectly made it possible. Through GiveDirectly transfers, I also have adequate food which can sustain my family for the next four months.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES38000 on a dairy cow as a source of milk and income for my family. I used to buy a cup of milk a daily which I couldn't afford at times and my kids would go to school without breakfast. I also spent KES 8000 on clothing and KES6600 on two sacks of maize and KES3000 on payment of school fees for my kids in school.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will bring a great impact to my family of 8. Life has been so miserable after loosing my husband 5 years ago now. Since my children are now in school I decided to start a business of selling vegetables in the village. On an ideal day I earn an average of KES.200. We end up consuming this amount in buying our daily needs in the house. In some occasions, we skip some meals due to financial constraints.With this transfers from GiveDirectly, I intend to start dairy farming to substitute my other business .I will use KES. 60,000 in buying 2 dairy cattle and also spend the remaining in buying stock of food in my house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
It is now 4 months ago when I thought of an idea of selling vegetables in the village. The business has really grown to an extend of other buyers coming home. I have been able to at least cater for the needs of my family. My children are also happy that they can afford a meal. This makes me to feel greatful as a parent.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
One of the major challenge I am currently facing is food in security.The small business that I usually do earns me an average of KES.200 and it is not on a daily basis. This situation have never allowed me to do other development in my home. We literally spend the entire amount to buy food. It really worries me a lot since children are growing and soon others will be joining secondary level.
