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?
Before I started receiving the funds from GiveDirectly I had great tribulation in keeping my kids in school since they got kicked out of class almost twice per month or every week of the money due to pending balances in school fees. Therefore after getting enrolled to GiveDirectly I made it my mission that my children would stay in school and not have to be worried about being sent home ever again. So with every transfer that I receive I end paying for a portion of their school fees so that it does not accumulate over time and that is exactly what I did with my most recent funds. I went ahead and paid KES 1,500 in school fees for two of my children. Then I took the remaining KES 1,500 and sorted nourishment by buying seven packets of maize flour for KES 840, two kilograms of sugar for KES 360 and lastly two packets of wheat flour for KES 300.
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?
GiveDirectly is doing a great job especially since we really needed the financial assistance and now we no longer have to starve and my children also get to remain in school because I ensure to pay their tuition fee.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Drought has really impacted my village negatively since we barely have any crops and considering we rely on rainfall to have meals this has impacted everyone in the village including myself and that is why after I received the money I bought a bag of maize flour which contained a dozen packets which was worth KES 1,200, four kilograms of rice worth KES 400, two kilograms of beans worth KES 200 and three kilograms of sugar. Then I also bought washing detergent and body oil which cost me KES 700.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy my kids could finally go back to school although I could not afford to pay for all their school debts but I had at least managed to reduce some of it and this made me less unhappy because we were making progress to say the least.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My children are my biggest concern in my life and I would not want them to miss on the opportunity to gain knowledge and be able to get educated unlike me so them going back to school was very vital to and I will keep making sure they do so.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before receiving the transfers, four of my kids had been sent home from school due to pending balances on their fees and so I decided to pay for that and since the money could not cater for all the four of them, I paid for two of eldest each costing KES 500 and as for the remaining two I went and pleaded with the administrators of the school to let them study while I try and look for money to clear their debts later on. I also bought sugar worth KES 200 since we did not have any in our house.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Education for my children is my priority. It hurts to see them out of school more often because of accumulated fee arrears. This year, I failed to enroll my son in secondary school and it pains me. I have decided to end this situation by finding an alternative source of income. These transfers will provide sustainable capital for my vegetable business, which I started recently, with the help of 500 KES from a neighbour. I will strive to save from it and raise their school fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Temperatures are very high in this area, owing to the hot and dry climate. It occurs that the morning is the only enjoyable time for me. The weather is always cool and I can do my duties without draining much energy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial deprivation is the hardest affair that I deal with. My family is not always guaranteed to get a meal, despite my efforts to make ends meet. Surviving on debts has become a norm for us. There is no way I can achieve financial freedom by making 150 KES a day to feed a family of eight.
