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
55000 KES ($453 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
After utilizing the second transfer, I have not developed any goal yet since I would like to concentrate on my children's education. This remains the biggest goal that I started and I aim to accomplish it first before venturing into another goal. Therefore, I usually save a little amount from my business of selling charcoal while my husband does carpentry work wherever he is called upon and we combine our savings for a common goal of educating our children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is a hand-holding organization that assists people from hardship areas. Through the unconditional transfers, I was able to settle the school fees issue and now I have peace of mind because my children are settled in school without school fees disturbances unlike before when they were ever out of school for fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I have five children who are students, my priority was catering to their education. The elder one is in university, two are in secondary school; form one and form four, and the other two are in lass eight and class six. When I withdrew the money, I used $200 for shopping and school fees for the form one child since he was joining secondary school. Again I spent $100, $60, and $20 for the university, form four, and primary school children respectively. As of now, I am happy because my children are settled in school and conducting their studies peacefully. Apart from the school fees, I bought some food for my family since hunger had stroke our area. Concerning that, I kept the remaining amount for the family's upkeep.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($470 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
While I was cleaning up my house, I heard a message alert. I quickly rushed to check and saw that I had received funds from give directly. I felt blissful. The very first thought I had was to buy some food as we had run out of it plus, we were planning on sleeping hungry. So, I waited for my husband to get back home from work, then I informed him of the good news and the ideas I had on the usage of the money which he agreed to. I later left to shop for some sustenance.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The greatest difference I have noted ever since I received these funds was seeing my child successfully join form one. I had already given up on that thought. Because my husband and I could not afford to raise the KES 31,000 that was needed to complete his admission. We also never used to have decent clothes. Those we had were old and torn and we could go out in them. But thanks to the funds, I was able to buy some and I feel more relieved and confident.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In most schools, form one admission is normally very strict. The parent or guardian has to pay the full school fees and buy everything on the shopping list provided by the school. In my case, I felt I was stranded as I did not know what I would do so I could meet all the requirements for the earnings I get as a charcoal manufacturer and what my husband gets after selling farming tools is not enough to raise such an amount. But thanks to the funds I got from give directly, I used KES 31000 to meet all these for my son to be admitted. The amount that remained, I used to buy some food and clothing for my family. This is so we could replace the old ragged clothes we had and that we won't need to sleep hungry.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Purchasing a water tank to reserve water during the rainy season is my wish when I receive the money. I have been going through a hard time getting water for domestic use for some years. The distance that is covered from home to the dam is approximately two hours which is so tiresome. To solve this I intend to buy a water tank with the capacity of 2000 liters by using twenty thousand Kenya shillings which will be able to collect water that can serve us for long period, fifty thousand to build a new two three-bedroom muddy house for my family since the one we live currently has one bedroom which forces my children to seek shelter from my mother in law and the balance to buy beddings and clear school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My sisters-in-law just came yesterday to visit us. I felt happy to see them because the last time we met was before the covid pandemic started.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Insufficient income to serve the needs of my family is the challenge that I face. I burn charcoal to earn a living where. I have been doing this job eight years ago when my husband's job ended and we had to come back home to start a new life. At that time I had 3 children of which currently are six, truly speaking am too tired of this kind of work but I don't have any other option. The much that I can get from charcoal burning in a week is five hundred shillings. My husband does a small business selling firewood which brings just two hundred Kenya shillings in a day. When we combine our efforts we are always in dilemma either to plan for food, school fees, erect a house, or clothing.
