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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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($467 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, I want to focus more on dairy farming. This will not only be a source of milk for my family but also an income for school fees payment.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does everything well. This is because the field officers adhere to the enrollment rules to the latter without fear or favor.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a business lady and a mother of five; three boys and two girls all of them are now grown. My husband also is a cashier in one of the big hotels in the city. We also have eight acres of land where we do maize and dairy farming.
Secondly, my elder kids are now in college and the last born just joined high school. To pay fees, I rely on dairy farming, my retail shop, and my husband's salary. Fortunately, this time around GiveDirectly stepped in to help. From the second transfer, I spent KES 25000 on payment of school fees for my daughter in high school and two sons in college.
Furthermore, as a woman who likes livestock farming. I also spent KES 27,000 of my second transfer on a heifer. This will not only act as a long-term source of income but also as a memorial gift from GiveDirectly. The remainder of KES 10,000; KES 5, 000 was used on the latest clothing fashion, and the other KES 5, 000 as church tithe.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($486 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8:30 am and I was at home busy preparing myself to go to work. I had left my phone on the table and just as I was about to leave, it rang notifying me of a new message. I stopped to check it because I thought it was about work. I opened the message and I could not believe it when I saw that it was an SMS saying that I had received the promised transfer of KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I was filled with so much happiness and I thanked God for the blessing as I left for work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The transfer brought a very big difference in my life and that of my family. I was able to clear the school fee balances for my two children and hence they were able to continue with their studies well. The one who is in secondary school was not sent home while the other who is in the university was able to sit for his final exam for the academic year. I hence had fewer worries and I was able to plan on other things.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the first transfer money on paying school fees for my two children. I paid KES 18000 for the one who is in the university and the other who is secondary school, I paid KES 14000. Getting money for their school fees had become a challenge to me since we have not been paid for several months at our work place. My child who is in the university was hence on the verge of missing his exams while the other was about to be sent home due to the school fee balance. The transfer came in handy and as I result my children were able to continue with their studies well. I am hence so much grateful for the support that GiveDirectly gave me. May God bless you abundantly.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means good education for my children. I was not able to finish school due to lack of school fees and dropped out in form two. This has always made me want to educate all my children and give them a good foundation in life. My son joined university in September and my daughter too joined secondary school in August , this drained us financially and we had to sell one cow to cater for their school fees which is still in arrears of KES 52,000. I will use the transfer to clear the school fees balance and buy one cow with KES 30,000.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In January this year I started a potato fries business and I am happy for making that decision because for the last 6 months business has been picking up very well. My sales have increased from an average of KES 5000 in January to 9000 now. This has brought me happiness as I can comfortably pay KES 3,000 rent for my daughter in university.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints is a challenge to me. I sell potato fries to earn a living and get KES 300 per day. I hardly save any amount for future use or other investments. My husband works as a security guard and even after supplementing his salary from the profits I get, it is hardly enough to cater for all the basic needs of my family of four especially school fees for two children in school.It disheartens me when they are sent home to collect money for not paying it in full.
