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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have four children who are still students and continue with their education. The eldest is in secondary school and owed the school a debt of KSH 3800. Upon receiving the funds, I spent half of the transfer KSH 1500 to clear part of the debt I owed the school. Besides paying the school fees for my eldest son, I spent the other half to buy food for my family. My veterinary job has been affected heavily because of the prevalence of the drought that is going on in our area. Many livestock have died and I no longer get jobs like I used to before. Because of this, I cannot take care of my family by buying food and also paying their school fees.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I got my first transfer of ksh1200, I spent ksh1000 on food and ksh200 to pay for my children's school fee arrears. On my second and third transfers, I used equal amounts on school fees payment and food purchases. These transfers have been very helpful since my farming business had incurred a loss of ksh1400 after all the cassavas I planted on a 0.25ha were destroyed by the droughts. Normally, I specialize in maize, cassava, vegetables, and poultry farming.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The unconditional cash transfers that Give directly is giving is one thing that I love. The option to do whatever I want to better my life is such a good idea that I will always be forever grateful. This is because we all have different priorities and not forcing things to be equal among us is refreshing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the first money transfer, I was to buy food for my family. During this drought season having three meals a day has been very difficult as we do not have fresh produce from the fields. We have also had to buy water as the taps have dried out. The second transfer I was able to divide the money equally, KES.1500 on food for the family, and the rest of KES.1500 were spent on school fees for my children who had been sent home due to school fees balance. I am very thankful to Give directly as my family is now living comfortably.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That day I had been working all along until a neighbor came to me stating that the money had come in early. It was about noon when I checked my messages and confirmed I had indeed got the money which was sent in the morning by nine. I was so happy that I felt a burden lifted from my chest.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that my children can go to school without being chased due to a lack of school fees. We can now also eat enough meals as we can supplement our income with this money. I am also happy and grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This year has not been a good year left alone the pandemic there has been a drought in the area and so farming has been difficult. I am a farmer by profession and without rain, I have not been able to plant any crops or harvest anything making our income less than required to meet our basic needs. Luckily with this money, I was able to buy KES.1200 on food which was a necessity for my homestead. My wife helps out whenever she can buy selling coconuts in the market. This has been a big help to my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a farmer who relies on selling cassava and maize to survive, pay fees for my four school going children and also medical care. As it is now, there has been no rain in the past months and the drought set in just when I was struggling to make ends meet. It's been very tough to put food on the table and pay school fees but there's hope because I'm looking forward to receiving funds from Give Directly and that will help me afford some food and send my children to school effortlessly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have three grown children who are married and live in different counties. In the month of April, they all decided to pay my wife and I a surprise visit. They came bearing gifts like foodstuff, clothes and stories in plenty. My heart was full just from seeing them and observing that neither of them looked unhappy or injured, I was also overjoyed by knowing that my children still feel the need of coming home to see us. That is such a blessing.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
There is shortage of water in our village, therefore, we have to walk very far, sometimes to the neighboring villages to fetch water from the man made dams. This has led to scarcity of food that forces my family and I to eat very little in order to save for the days ahead as we do not know how and when this drought will ease. It is a sad state and I'm not happy seeing my children going to school on almost empty stomachs.
