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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I never knew that my transfer was around the corner, the moment I received my transfer I was at home relaxing. Then suddenly, I had my phone ringing and vibrating loudly. Upon checking what the message entailed I was startled that I had received a sum of KES 55,000 from Segovia technology. Words cannot describe the immense joy that I felt I knew that I would be able to attend to all my immediate needs with the money that I had received thus I was relieved.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I was able to clear the school fees arrears of my children. I was unable to pay on time since I depended on farming and my husband's business to earn a living yet it was not sufficient to meet all our needs. I feel that a heavy load has been lifted off my back thus I am relieved and happy. Additionally, I was able to buy foodstuffs with the remaining amount. I am grateful for the unconditional transfer that uplifted our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
School fees responsibilities have been the major challenge that I have been dealing with. I am a consistent farmer and my husband is a middleman in the animal trade in the village. Together we are blessed with five children. Upon receiving my transfer I used KES 39,000 in paying school fees for my children who are bought in high school and primary schools respectively. This has been a headache since we depend on farming yet our lands are no longer productive. Lastly, I used the remaining amount on clothes and foodstuffs. I am forever grateful for the support that lifted my living standards and also brought happiness into our family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better education for my children. I have 3 children in secondary school and it has been a challenge getting money to pay for their academic fee. My spouse is a business man buying and selling cows in the nearby market, however his income is not sufficient to cather for their school fees. One of our child has fee arrears of KES 19000 and I am afraid he will not be allowed to study if not paid. So when I receive this transfer I will spend KES 41000 to pay for academic fee and the remaining amount I will purchase a dairy cow who will be my source of income when it calve.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We have been able to purchase 1 acre of land through hiring of land and planting maize which we sell later. Through that we managed to get good amount which we used to purchase the land. This brought joy and happiness into my life since we were living in small family land with limited resources. We now have a place to do crop farming.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge is financial constraints. We do not have a stable source of income. My spouse does business of buying and selling cows in the market however, his income is not sufficient to meet all our household needs including paying for school fees for our children. One of my children has school fees arrears and I am worried that he will not have humble time to study because of constant coming home to collect fees
