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 work as a community health volunteer. Here, I am only given allowances. Due to my limited finances, I am unable to support the family. Therefore, I am left to depend on my husband, who works as a tuk-tuk driver, for financial support. The business does not earn him much. So, school fees payment has been challenging for us. Currently, the children's fee arrears stand at KES1500. This is after I paid KES1500 from the money I received from give directly. Using the transfer, I also used KES1000 to buy some new school uniforms for the children, and the remaining KES500 I bought some food with. As for my first transfer of KES1200, I focused on my areas of need. Which are, school fee payment and food for my family, where I used KES500 and KES700 respectively.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
There is no area that give directly has not done well in. All I see is the great work that they have done. Through cash donations, my husband and I have been able to split our duties. In that, I focus on the school fees payment, whilst he focuses on a different need. This has given us a sense of financial stability.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Having had difficulties in providing adequate food for my family over the past months, GiveDirectly came through to my aid in a big way as I received my first transfer of KES 1200 with which I was able to purchase the food items to sustain my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Ever since I received my first transfer, I am much able to provide meals for my family and having been living in a mud house, I plan to construct a permanent structure to provide better housing for my family and I.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
As I was going about my daily routine of ploughing in my farm, I received a text message on my phone. On checking, I saw an MPESA text from Segovia Technologies of KES 1200. I was hesitant since I thought it was a scam as I had been receiving quite a number of scam messages. I checked my MPESA balance and true to my eyes, the amount was really there. I walked to an MPESA agent shop and was so elated as I withdrew the amount enabling me to purchase food stuffs.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have only 3 children in primary school yet sometimes I fail to support them in paying their fees. This is something that has stressed me a lot since seeing my children at home while others are in school pisses me off. I, therefore, consider financial instability as the challenge that I am currently facing.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband works as a taxi driver and his weekly earning is utmost 2000 KES and from this income, he sends me 1500 KES every week. This is something I am so grateful about since I have never slept hungry in the past 6 months. Therefore, I consider this as what has brought happiness to my life.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My greatest desire has been to reinforce my house with hardcore and cement but this has never been possible due to financial crisis. With the arrival of GiveDirectly to my house, I am now confident to realize my dream since the 3000 KES every month will be settling my debt of 40000 KES that I am expecting to borrow soon from our merry-go-round, to ensure my house is complete. This will change our livelihood since I will be able to live a conformable life. The other transfers will support my children's education and other household needs like food, clothing and beddings.
