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?
My children had pending school fee arrears of 2,500 KES, so I deducted 1,500 KES from the transfers to slice the debt. I am grateful because their studies have, up to date, not been paused due to fee deficits. Before the transfers, I had initiated a project to build a concrete pillar around the walls of my house to strengthen and protect them from crumbling due to strong winds. So, I purchased three bags of cement worth 1,950 KES to push the progress and compensated the constructor with 1,500 KES. I also spent 1,500 KES to secure a drake to breed, reproduce and increase the flock. Finally, I bought food worth 1,850 KES for family consumption since the house was often running out of meals to an extent of surviving with a cup of porridge daily.
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 received my first transfer I spent KSH 1000 on buying food. The drought condition at that time had stricken very hard. The major challenge was getting food for the family to eat. Finding food from the farm was very difficult since everything had dried up. The only option left was to buy food from the kiosk and food was very expensive. With the remaining KSH 2000, I decided to buy a small goat. I have always wanted to own livestock of my own and this was the perfect opportunity for me to own one. I am glad that it is quickly growing up. I spent KSH 2000 in paying school fees for my children who had at that time been sent home due to school fees balances. With the remaining KSH 1000, I spent it on buying food for my family. The food stock in the house was dwindling. I decided to use my third transfer to repair my house. The rains had started to fall and this made my house lean on one side due to the weak pillars on either side of the house. I bought cement with the money and some building stones to strengthen the pillars of my house.
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?
Give Directly comes in handy especially in times of emergencies. Like for the last transfer, my children had been sent home for school fees but I was able to pay immediately I received the transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I split the transfer of KES 3050 equally into two. I spend half of it to buy food and the other half to pay school fees. This two needs have always been my biggest burden.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the text message at around 9 am in the morning when i was actually taking breakfast. I was very happy and delighted when i saw the transfer and the first person to tell the news was my elder husbands brother.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
At the moment i can notoce a small difference in that i am able to use the funds in satisfying needs such payment of school fees and also biying of food. As i await the other funds i am sure there will be a bigger impact and difference created in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I plan on spending the money on paying school fees from my children. And also spend some amount on buying food fro my family
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Growing up, tailoring was all I ever wanted to do, but my parents could not afford to take me past primary level. At a tender age after completing primary school, I married the love of my life. Since then, we have been depending on the casual jobs he gets every now and then. I am now a housewife and with the transfers, I plan on enrolling for a part-time tailoring course and finally achieving my long time goal.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I prepare lunch for my kids. This is time that my husband send me money to buy food. When i receive the messege from Mpesa gives me peace.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband is a casual labourer in a nearby town and earns 300KES in a day. With 8 mouths to feed, the amount is barely sufficient to cater for all our basic needs. Saving enough money for school fees is always a challenge and in most cases, my children are sent home from school. When we can’t raise money for food, we end up sleeping on an empty stomach. It’s stressful to see your children go without food.
