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
53150 KES ($521 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Had it not for the tranfers that I received, I wouldn't have bought a water tank. It is very instrumental in saving water for the family even during dry seasons. We used to depend on rain water for clean drinking water or better still walk long distances to fetch it. The tranfers provided a solution to this.
Also, school fees were paid in full amount,guaranteeing my children ample school and study time with no interruption of being sent back home to collecr the fee which were not there altogether.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Givedirectly does good by offering financial support to poor people to help them rise beyond their means in terms of unconditional cash transfers. There is really nothing that GD does wrong!
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent the the second transfers in paying school fees for my children who are in secondary school. I also bought a water tank which serves as a reservoir during dry seasons
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I am now a happier parent as I know that my children will not be sent back home to fetch school fees this year hence they will have enough time to concentrate on their studies unlike before when they used to come home almost every week. The thought of it makes my heart brightened as I view my children as an investment since I know that they will one day come and help me if they get a quality education.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 8 am as I was taking breakfast with my family when I received a message which indicated that I had received some money from GiveDirectly. at that instant, I started singing and rejoicing since it was my first time to receive such a huge amount of money since my childhood. When I informed my children, they were equally overjoyed and joined me in singing Thanksgiving songs.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
My sons have been sleeping at my neighbors' house since they had no room to sleep in as I had a house with two rooms only and one of the rooms served as my a kitchen and bedroom while the other room served as my daughter's bedroom and living room. This usually makes it difficult for my sons to study at night when they are on holiday since they had to go to where they sleep before 7.30 pm due to security reasons. When I received my first transfers, I spent part of it in building a house for my sons so that they can be getting enough time to revise in the evenings. I spent the remaining amount in paying school fees for my children since I had no money to use in paying their school fees come January.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a daughter who is joining form two at Kapsabul Secondary School and a son who will be joining form one in 2019. Therefore, I intend to use approximately 48000 shillings (which is equivalent to a full year's school fees) to pay for their school fees when I receive my transfers. The remaining amount will be used in purchasing a cow which costs 25000 shillings and also build a small house for my son.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day usually starts at 6am. After I have ensured that I have prepared breakfast for my family, I go to fetch water from a river which is a kilometer away. Since rains have failed, I am forced to bring two hundred litres of water every day to be used for cooking and other household needs. My husband is a cook at a nearby secondary school and in the evening, he brings food which I prepare for the family. It is at this time that I am happiest because we take supper with my family as we narrate the events of the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Paying for school fees for my children has been an uphill task for me. I used to pay 6000 shillings to educate my children in primary school and when my daughter joined secondary school, I had to pay 8000 shillings per term towards her education alone. This amount strained the little resources I had and as a result, they occasionally had to be sent home because I could not raise the amount. I rely on farming to pay for their fees and lately, the rains have failed.
