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.
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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life is different from how it was because I am not stressed about how to pay school. I am at peace. I have been washing people's clothes to pay school fees for my daughter and to also take care of other household needs. My wages have never been enough to cater for my needs. Now that my husband got an accident, I have been taking most of the responsibilities but I am glad that I managed to take care of my daughter's school fees on time and now it is not a bother. Of late she has not been sent home unlike before where she could be sent home for a week due to school fees arrears.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start a business. I want to sell foodstuff. People have to eat either way and I am certain that when I start this business it will not collapse. I have been thinking of ways to sustain my family and I know that having a business will be a permanent solution to my financial constraints.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer on paying school fees for my daughter. My child had fee arrears and I thought it wise to pay the school fees balance because I knew that getting money from casual jobs that I normally do could not manage to clear the huge balance which she had. My husband had gotten an accident. He was knocked by a car which led to a broken leg. I am glad that he is recovering. All the responsibilities have been left for me but what makes me happy is that the transfer has really helped to keep my child in school.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($367 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it was previously because I no longer have to borrow money to settle my son's school fees. I have been able to generate income from my cereal business which I started with the transfers that I received from GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My goal currently is to ensure my son finishes high school and even get a chance to join the university. I was never given an opportunity to study even though I had the interest reason being, my parents did not adequate resources. I said to my self that all my sons will go to school to the highest level they so wish and school fees will not be the reason for them stopping because I will walk all corners to ensure I provide.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my recent transfer, I spent a bigger amount to pay back a loan that I borrowed from our group. This loan really helped me when I needed to pay for my son's school fees. I still spent the transfer to pay school fees for my son and the remaining amount I bought household shopping.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($199 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goal now is to open up a big cereal shop in Eastleigh area. I hope to stock cereals such as beans and legumes in the shop.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that now my mind is relaxed because I have kept my children in school. I do not have to worry about my daughter being sent home for school fees this January.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to pay school fees for my daughter who is in form three. I wash clothes for people for a living and my husband depends on construction jobs to fend for us. Most of the time we are never assured of these jobs whenever we set out to look for work. There are days we get lucky and find available work, and some days we don't get these jobs. We have struggled a lot financially especially with our two children in High school. Paying school fees has been our greatest challenge and our children have to be sent home for school fees most of the time. I was really happy that I managed to keep my children in school this January.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was at High ridge Estate in Nairobi county washing clothes for a client. It was around 9:00 AM when I checked my phone as I had kept it away while I was working. That is when I saw the Mpesa message and truly I believed that Give Directly is an organization that can be trusted for keeping their word. I went back to work with a lot of excitement in my heart. I informed my husband about it in the evening when I get to the house and we immediately knew we would spend the transfers to pay school fees.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will use this money first to help in paying for my children school fees since January is first approaching and they will be going back to school.
Secondly I will use this money to invest in business of cereal selling for instance dry maize, beans, rice, green grams among others. This business is advantageous to me because cereals are durable and from their sales I will get good returns.
I will also save this money for further use and financially security.
Describe your biggest worry.
My most troubling worry is always about payment for rent. I am a casual labourer who at times lacks because my job is unpredictable and getting money is not guaranteed and husband too has low income due to the nature of his job of casual employment. This do make as not to pay for rent and other bills on time and this do bring me a lot of worries.
I also do worry about my children school fees since we have low income therefore paying up for their fees on time is a great challenge.
Health issues is always a source of worry to me that is when one falls sick in our family and we have to look for treatment for them and our low income at times doesn't allow as.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My main ambition is to succeed in business and be able to give my children better standard of lifestyle by ensuring they are healthy,they get better food, get better education that one day will help them in their lives.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
In my usual day I do my house chores and then go for my casual jobs like doing laundry for others and cleaning of houses whenever I am called. My jobs doesn't have specific time sinyI may be called in morning hours, afternoon or evening.
While at my free time, I do spend with my children or family. At times I go to group meetings and while on Sunday's I go to church.
