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, the transfers that GiveDirectly donates is good. One can biy what they need should it be food, clothing, shoes or even pay for your children's education. When I get my transfers, I am able to pay school fees and buy food; now, my child is no longer being sent home from school due to school fees. I do not have anything in mind of something GiveDirectly can improve on.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the first transfer to pay for my child's school fees. They had been sent home from school due to school fees arrears. Hence, KES 500 went towards their education and they were able to resume school. The remaining KES 700 I bought food with it. When I recieved the second transfer, I used KES 2000 to buy a goat and KES 500 went towards my children's education. I bought food with the remaining KES as we hadn't had food for 2 days.
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?
Receiving this transfer felt so great. It was a usual morning at around 9a.m. I was already tilling in the farm. So I heard my phone ring and when I checked, it was an Mpesa message from Give Directly. I have never felt so excited. I even left the farm immediately and went home to start planning my expenditure. I felt like the richest people in the world because I was not expecting that money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There are various differences in my daily life, but the biggest is the fact that my daughter can now stay in school peacefully. I do not have to worry about her being chased away from school because of school fees. Her performance has already started to improve and I'm so happy. May God bless Give Directly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spend my first transfer on a number of things: I used kshs 600 to pay fees for my daughter who is in grade 1, at Kabatheni primary school. Since we always depend on my husband, who is a casual labourer for basic needs, I decided to surprise him with shopping. So, I bought 6kgs of maize flour worth kshs 480, sugar worth kshs 60 and soap @ kshs 40. I have source of income and these transfers are just a big blessing for me.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wished to keep livestock but with the current drought keeping livestock now will be like signing their death penalty. I used to do substance farming before drought that was helping me provide food for my family with ease. Currently, I am forced to depend fully on my husband's casual jobs in town. This money comes at a time when I need to support my husband with household responsibilities because he strains a lot to put food on the table. I, therefore, plan to channel my first transfers into buying clothes and food for my children during this festive season.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy to be alive today and survived throughout the beginning of the drought and COVID-19.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The drought has worsened things for my family. I am a subsistence farmer but unfortunately due to the prolonged drought, I could not continue farming. I had to fully depend on my husband whose job is not consistent. The casual jobs he depends on in town hardly come by to due high demand and poor economic situation in the country. I had to resort to one meal a day to ease the burden on him.
