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 ($465 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As the second transfer was coming to an end, I got an idea that has now turned to a goal that I am struggling to see it coming to pass. I would like to be a great farmer based in livestock raring especially goats. Although raring cows is the best thing to do I choose goats because of the climatic condition of our area. Cows will not do well because of the lack of pasture and the hardship of sourcing for water.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly was specifically sent to me. I have been struggling to educate my children buy in vain since I did not have any proper source of income. The transfer enlivened me and made me feel alive after seeing the dream of educating my children resurrecting.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the second transfer, the first thing I did was to pay school fees of KES 17000.00 for my secondary school child. Being a widow has its challenges, rising and educating children alone has been a heavy burden on my shoulders though I had nothing to do rather than struggle to ensure that my children are comfortable. My son was ever sent home because of school fees but since the time I started receiving money from GiveDirectly things have changed positively. My son is comfortably conducting his studies. Thereafter, I bought two goats for KES 6000.00. I also took some amount to complete my house which was almost complete and also I bought some food for the family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had visited my friend in the nearby village when my phone started ringing It was around 9 in the morning when I had visited my friend in the nearby village when my phone started ringing. I was a bit shocked because I was not used to receiving a message at that time of the day. I, therefore, decided to check what the message was all about. I could not believe what I saw because it was an Mpesa message from Segovia Technology. I had finally received my first transfer as promised. I was so overwhelmed knowing that I will finally build a decent house. Due to the excitement that I had, I decided to go back home and share the good news with the rest of my family members.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life that I can mention so far is the fact that I now have a decent house. I used to shelter in an unconducive environment. It was just a round hut with a single room that could leak terribly anytime it could rain. During this period we could barely sleep and this would affect our health becasue every time we were always attacked by cold-related diseases. I had been yearning to construct a better but since I am a widow I had to struggle to make ends meet. sometimes providing for my family's needs was a disaster becasue my income was very low (KES 100) in a day. In addition, my two children would sometimes miss classes becaus of the huge fees balances that had accumulated and this used to frustrate me as a parent. Having in mind all these, it would take years for me to construct a house using my own cash. I am ao grateful to GiveDirectly to the far they have brought me becasue I never saw it coming.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 15000 of my first transfer on clearing fees arrears for my firstborn son who is in on his first year in secondary school. I paid in advance to avoid him being sent home concerning school fees as before. This will however allow them to continue with their studies without any interruptions. To add to that, I bought building materials which include building poles at KES 6000, pieces of iron sheets that cost KES 6000 as well, nails, and a labor charge of KES 5000. I had intended to build a new house because the previous one was just a small hut with a grass-thatched roof with some weak walls. I am so happy now that I am sheltering in a decent environment. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and other household items.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My last born son finished class eight in 2018 and scored 327 marks. He was offered a chance in Shimo la Tewa secondary school, one of the highly performing National school in the Coast Province of Kenya. Due to my financial capabilities, and being the breadwinner to my family having been left behind by my late husband, his desires to join the school did not see the light of the day. However, being a mother who wants to offer the best to her son, I solicited funds from my daughter's in-law who loaned me 10000 Kenya Shilling and as well, applied for a slot in the nearby school, Shaka Hola secondary school. I budgeted for him, bought for him a single pair of school uniform, and all the other basic materials needed in the school. I also started the annual school fee with 1000 Kenya Shilling. Thereafter, I brest for a tougher time, being obliged to repay the loan and at the same time source for more school fees for my son's academic continuity. I decided to venture into small business of charcoal selling. This has pushed me for long but now, with the drought in our region, even charcoal selling is becoming hard. My son is frequently sent back home for fees. He was recently sent home and I had no option but to take a 90 kilogram sack of charcoal as payment in kind to the school principal. So, my son's education has been the biggest headache and receiving this money, will mean an assurance of completion of my son's secondary school level. I will clear his fee arrears of 34000 Kenya shilling.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening. I usually spend most of my day selling charcoal. While there, I am always optimistic that I would probably meet my son back home, having been sent back home for school fees. Whenever I find otherwise at home, I am assured that he is in school and the principal has decided to keep my son for a day or more days in school despite his huge fee balance. This makes me happy, encourages me more to work much harder the following day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Since my late husband died, I have been really struggling to fend for my children. I used to depend on him for everything. I am not formally employed, and even the little business I engage on has also gone down. I am a charcoal seller, and with the drought that has ravaged our region, even trees have become scarce. Putting food on the table and meeting other basic needs is becoming a pipe dream. I am also obliged to pay school fees for my last born son, which has put me in continuous and vicious cycle of debts. So, the biggest problem that I have ever faced is the dependency ratio in me and the unemployment problem.
