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 giving financial support to the needy communities. This goes along way in boosting financial freedom to the local people. As a result of the transfers, there are many development projects that are ongoing in the village. So far GiveDirectly does so well in its ways of operations. I have therefore not seen what GiveDirectly does not do right.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to pay off school fees for my children. I had been having some arrears of KES 1200 for my 3 children in primary school. I am glad that currently I am not stressed up with the issues of fee arrears. Furthermore, I bought a solar of Kes 400 since I did not have sufficient source of lighting. As a result, my children were always struggling to complete their assignments at night. Lastly I spent kes 1000 to buy food for my family. I am glad that for the past one month, my family has been having sufficient food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
When I received my first transfer, I felt so excited. At first I doubted myself and reasoned within me that possibly that cash might have been sent to me by mistake. I was on my way to look for a casual job from my friend when the transfer message popped up in my phone. I had to consult a nearby friend who had also been enrolled in GD program if possibly GD promise was such real. Upon realizing that for sure GD had sent us transfers, I decided to go back home and straight away went to school to pay part of school fee arrears I had. I am very grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since I started receiving my transfers, the biggest difference in my life is a big relief from the huge school fee arrears. I am now not stressed up as I was before, especially towards the end of 2021. I am sure that with the support from GiveDirectly, I shall be able to always pay my children's scholl fees with a lot of ease. At no point will my children be sent back home for school fee arrears.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
GiveDirectly transfer was God sent and timely since it came at a time I was stressed up with my children's school fee arrears. I spent part of my last transfer, KES 800 to pay off school fee arrears for my three children in primary school. The fee arrears had accumulated as a result of low casual jobs hence whatever I could earn was even insufficient to cater for my family meals. I was so happy that out of the GD transfers, my children were not sent back home while nearing examination time. Thanks to GD for the good it does.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My three school-going children will not bear the shame of being sent home for school free anymore. I may Ksh. 3,600 for all of them per term. Three transfers from Give Directly will be Ksh. 9,000. This translates to paying school fees for the three and saving the rest for other school needs like uniforms and stationery. I also have three young ones who have not joined school. These savings I believe will help in enrolling them. We will keep surviving on the money I get from odd jobs but solely dedicate GD funds to school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Earlier this year, my family and I harvested a lot of maize. This has enabled us to feed without much struggle till now. We are praying for the rain so that we can plant more in preparation for the next year.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
As a believer in the power of education, my children have been coming home too often for fees arrears. I feel so helpless as their father because they all look up to me for support. My odd jobs only allow me to make enough for food and nothing else. Much as my family has never condemned me for failing to provide, I am heartbroken every time I think about it and have no means of sending them back to school.
