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?
Ever since we started receiving money from Give Directly, my husband and I initiated a project to put up a new brick house. I saved KES 3000 and hope to continue accumulating the amount to acquire 15 bags of cement for the construction exercise. I used KES 2500 to pay for the transportation of building stones from the quarry to my home. I spent the remaining amount, KES 500, on my children’s education.
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?
During the previous transfers I received, I managed to pay tuition fee for my eldest daughter since she was in highschool and the teachers threatened not to give her the report card if the fees were not cleared so I decided to take care of it but did not pay for her younger siblings who were still in elementary. Therefore this time round when I received the money I paid KES 500 for the both of the which was KES 1,000 and finished the debt they had. As for what I was left with I decided to buy bricks so that I could finally renovate my house because I live in a mud house and during the rainy season I get a really hard time because the heavy rain melts the mud away and water begins to flow inside my house, leaving my children and I cold and uncomfortable. That is why I used KES 2,000 to buy bricks so that finally I could take care of the predicament once and for all.
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?
I think GiveDirectly does well in terms of giving us direct cash transfers into our accounts. This is a good way of helping us. This helps us attend to the needs that we feel are very urgent to us. I also commend GiveDirectly in terms of not having biasness as they enroll the recipients into the programs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I currently depend on doing manual jobs to provide for my family. The drought situation in our home area has made life even more difficult. Just imagine we are currently buying water at KSH 80 for a 20-liter jerrican. This is becoming unbearable for us. The little I earn is just enough to buy food and also pay little as school fees. When I received the transfer I spent KSH 1000 in paying school fees for my children. In addition to that, I spent another KSH 1000 buying food family. I also gave my son who is in secondary school KSH 500 as pocket money. I purchased water and some other household stuff with the rest of the money.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the message that I had received the cash at 9 am in morning on Thursday. I was from fetching water from a nearby water pan. My neighbors told me that they had received their transfers. So when I got home went directly to my phone and confirmed that indeed I had received the cash too. I was very happy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am relaxed now that my kids are in school and I used the money to pay school fees for my children. I also have peace of mind that with the help of the funds I was able to buy food for my family and we are not afraid that we will go a whole day without eating anything.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KSH 2000 shillings on paying school fees for my children. Schools were due to open I had not gotten school fees so I decided to pay school fees for them to go to school. I also spent KSH 1000 on buying food for my family. Due to my nature of work and the poor state of the economy I was not able to raise school fees and also be able to provide my family with the food at the same time.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means good education for my children. I have 3 children who are all attending school. The eldest is in secondary and the other two in primary school. Being jobless, raising their school fees is quite a challenge for me. My husband works as a casual labourer in Mombasa. The pay he gets is insufficient. He makes approximately 10,000 KES per month. This income is all used to cater for our basic and domestic needs. This leaves us with nothing to pay school fees for our children. I will use the money I will be receiving to pay for my children's tuition fees as they advance in their studies.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I believe there can be no happiness without good health. In the last 6 months, I have never spent even a single penny for any medical bills. Every member of my family is of sound health. Being healthy for all this long is my source of joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment is the challenge I am currently facing. Being jobless has had a great negative effect on my children's education. Raising their school fees has been very difficult without any source of income.Their father works as a casual labourer. His earnings only sort out our domestic needs. In some extreme cases, my children can stay out of school for two weeks due to huge fee arrears.
