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.
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30th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 29 days ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My future goal is to continue investing in livestock, particularly goats. I have already joined a saving group, where I regularly contribute. Once it's my turn to receive the funds, I plan to use the money to purchase more goats. I currently have five goats, which I bought with money from the transfers, and as the herd grows, I will have the opportunity to sell some to meet my family's needs. I am grateful for the financial assistance, which has helped me improve my life and the well-being of my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a subsistence farmer and community health officer in my village, I face significant challenges due to the harsh and hot weather conditions that have made farming, our primary source of income, less productive. My husband, the breadwinner of our family, is also a farmer, but without the rains, it has become increasingly difficult to grow crops and sustain our livelihood. My earnings as a community health officer are limited, making it hard to meet the growing needs of our family. I used $48 from the financial transfers to pay school fees for our four children, who had been sent home due to a large outstanding balance. This payment ensured that they were able to return to school and continue their education. I also spent $40 to purchase food for my family, ensuring that we had enough to eat and didn't miss any meals. In addition, I saved $14 in a saving group, with the goal of using this money to invest in goats. Owning goats will give me a financial safety net to rely on in times of need. I am deeply appreciative of the financial support, which has been instrumental in helping me care for my family, including paying for my children's education.
28th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the upcoming year, I aim to develop the success I have already achieved with the five goats I acquired through my merry-go-round group. Firstly, I plan to concentrate on acquiring more goats to expand my investment. By carefully managing and expanding this herd, my ultimate aim is to be able to trade them for a cow. This cow will not only increase our milk supply but also provide a stable source of income. My vision of investing in livestock will establish a solid foundation for securing my family’s future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I work hard in subsistence farming to support our family of six. With the recent three transfers totaling $102, I made sure to use this money wisely for the benefit of our family. Firstly, I allocated $72 to pay off the school fees for our four children, who had outstanding balances. I didn't want them to be sent home from school, so ensuring their education continued without interruption was my priority. With the remaining $30, I decided to save it with a merry-go-round, a savings group where we each pool $10 monthly. This group allows us to pool and give the funds to one member each month, and I've been using it to save for goats. Thanks to this strategy and the merry-go-round, through it, I've managed to purchase five goats so far. This investment will help us enhance our farming and provide additional income for our family.
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 5 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With my prior transfers, I had already purchased poultry with the hopes that they would multiply and grow in number. Using the chickens that have multiplied, I plan to sell them, acquire goats in the hopes that they will also multiply, trade them for cows, and eventually start a livestock farm, specializing in cows. In order for my children to be able to support themselves and take care of me in the future, I also plan to urge them to finish their school and support them utilizing the transfers i receive from Givedirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have four children that attend school, and I have always placed a high value on their education. My goal has always been to see children succeed in school, therefore the transfers have been a great help to them as they have studied. I spent $98 using the transfers to cover their school fees and purchase the stationery they need for class. Observing them successfully transition into school and continue their education has always been important to me. I then bought some soap and sugar with the the remaining $4 of the transfers for our regular home needs. I appreciate all of GiveDirectly's assistance.
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 9 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My child attending secondary school currently has an outstanding school fee debt amounting to $50 for the entire term. My priority is to settle this debt promptly, following which I intend to invest in acquiring additional livestock. These animals will serve as a sustainable source of income once the financial assistance from Give Directly concludes. I am deeply grateful for the invaluable financial support, especially in facilitating my children's education, particularly as my illness limits my ability to work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have a family of four children who rely on my financial support to cover their education expenses. Recently, I allocated $44 towards school fees, with my eldest attending secondary school and the others enrolled in primary education. Their continued schooling is made possible thanks to the invaluable financial assistance provided by the transfers. Additionally, I invested $18 in purchasing stationery supplies for my children, ensuring they have the tools necessary for successful learning. Furthermore, I set aside $30 in a savings group, earmarked for future school fees and livestock investments. During the festive season, I spent $14 on food, enjoying quality meals and festivities with my family. The support from the transfers has been crucial in facilitating my children's education and ensuring their continued enrollment in school, for which I am deeply grateful.
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($24 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming years, my primary goal is to expand my goat farming operation so that I can ensure a smoother and more secure path for paying my children's school fees without constant financial struggle. As a parent, there's nothing more important to me than providing a good education for my kids, and I've seen how goat farming can be a reliable source of income. By gradually increasing my herd, I aim to generate the necessary funds to not only cover their educational expenses but also to improve our overall quality of life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving the recent unconditional cash transfer was like a ray of hope in our otherwise challenging lives. With a family of seven members and relying primarily on casual jobs and occasional community service, making ends meet has always been a struggle. Immediately, I knew how to allocate the money wisely. First and foremost, I paid the school fees of $20 for my four children, two of whom were in secondary school and the other two in lower classes. The burden of ensuring their education weighed heavily on my shoulders, and this financial support was a breath of fresh air. To add to that, I made strategic choices. $10 went straight into my monthly savings, providing a cushion for unexpected expenses and future needs. With the remaining $4.7, I purchased essential household items like detergents and stationery. These seemingly small items made a world of difference in our daily lives, as they not only improved our living conditions but also reduced the financial stress that had become a constant presence in our home. As I look at my children heading off to school with smiles on their faces and our household running more smoothly, I can't help but feel a sense of gratitude for the support that has eased our burdens and given us a glimpse of a brighter future.
13th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My primary goal for the year is to ensure that my son, who is in his final year of secondary school, has a zero balance for his tuition fees. This will enable him to obtain his national examination certificate and pursue higher education. I plan to achieve this goal by using a portion of the monthly transfers that I receive to pay for his school fees. Additionally, I aim to increase the size of my goat herd from the current two to a larger number, as I intend to enter the livestock-selling business. The money from the transfers has already enabled me to purchase these goats, and I hope to continue expanding my herd throughout the year.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My family of six depends solely on my husband's income, which he earns by growing food crops on our farm and selling the surplus in the market. Unfortunately, the past six years have been tough due to unfavorable weather conditions, which prevented him from working on the farm. As a result, we had to look for other sources of income, such as rearing livestock and selling them in the market. Fortunately, I am pleased to say that we have enrolled in the cash program, which has provided us with monthly stipends. When I received the transfer money, I spent $10 on paying exam fees for our two children who attend Primary School, so they can take their end-of-term exams. In addition to paying school fees, we spent $14 on food, which would last for over two weeks. This included purchasing five packets of maize flour, half a kilogram of sugar, half a kilogram of beans, and 500 grams of tea leaves. The transfer money arrived at the appropriate time since we had no money left to buy food, and we were staring at the possibility of starving. Finally, we formed a savings group, comprising four members, where we contribute $10 every month. The total amount collected is given to one person who decides on the project to invest in. These groups have helped us accumulate funds and invest in more significant projects, such as buying livestock and paying school fees for our children.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have to give my kids a suitable learning atmosphere if I want to guarantee that they have a good future. This includes making sure their tuition is paid on time and that they have access to all the resources they require to succeed in their studies. By the end of this year, I want to buy ten goats to help me do this. They reproduce and mature more quickly, increasing their profitability. They can also withstand the drought here. I thus think that once I accomplish this goal, paying the tuition fees for my children won't be a problem in the future because I will be selling some of them anytime I won't be able to pay for their tuition.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I became interested in goat farming after seeing how my neighbors benefited from it, notably how simple it was to pay their kids' school fees, but I was unable to afford them. We are a family of nine that relies heavily on my husband, a subsistence farmer. He never receives a lot of farm produce because of the drought, so we have trouble meeting our daily needs. I therefore joined a savings group with the intention of buying goats as soon as we began receiving the transfers. I purchased a goat for $45 to add to the five I had purchased with the prior transfers when I recently earned my $50 in shares. To address the present food crisis brought on by the drought, $34 was spent on food. In addition, I have also contributed $20 to our savings group in order to buy more goats.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I realized that the transaction had actually been sent out I went ahead and used KES 2.000 by buying a sack of maize. The reason being that there was barely any food in the house that my family and I were almost on the verge of starving and I could not even afford to buy maize flour because it was too costly as compared to purchasing my own maize and taking it to the mill for grinding. I ended up remaining with a balance of KES 1,000 which I left in my savings account because I plan on eventually purchasing a goat.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 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?
This organisation is doing a marvelous job by sending the transfers because finances have always been a challenge especially with children involved since they are always in need of different items for instance fees, stationery, medical attention and nutrition just to mention a few. Before knowing GiveDirectly nourishment was a challenge and so was tuition fee but now the financial assistance has helped us keep our children in school and ensure there is always food at home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have four children in elementary school and one who is in high-school and they happened to all have tuition debt from this particular term because they had just resumed school and I had paid yet since I had no money. That is the reason why when I received the transfers I paid KES 1,000 for the one in high-school since the debt was huge and I still owe the school KES 11,000 for this term. Then I took KES 500 and paid for my other four children who are still in elementary. I also still owe the school a balance of KES 1,500 which I will clear soon. As for the rest of the funds I used KES 1,080 to purchase eight packets of maize flour since there was barely any food on the house and I will use the balance remaining of KES 420 to acquire laundry detergent and two kilograms of beans.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($26 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 chatting with my family members after taking our dinners. We were about to go to rest when I heard my phone ringing. I was extremely anxious to know it content, since it was very rare to receive messages at such time of the day. After checking, I realize that I had received the transfer. I was very happy knowing that I will be able to get the books for my kids as well as supporting their educational needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am living a better life after accomplishing my desire of supporting my kids education. Seeing them going and returning home from school without problem gives me hope of their better future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfer come at a time when my 4 kids who are in primary school were about to go back to school after the holiday. I had no money to purchase the books which were required. I spent KES 500 to acquire the books and they are now learning without any interruption. In addition, I sent KES 500 to my child who is in a secondary school as pocket money since he had no money for his upkeep. I also use 1000 to purchase food for the family. I remained with KES 500 which I saved in our women empowerment group. I am planning to use the next transfer to pay school fees for my 4 children in primary school.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I was not privileged to further my education after primary due to lack of finances. It did not bother me at the time because many young girls were getting married after primary school, some never even stepped on a school gate. As time goes by, things kept on changing and this made me see the importance of education. I then realized that without good educational background my children will not have a good life, this made me swear to make sure that they all get the chance to study. I am happy that my wish has been answered and my children will now go to school without any disruptions. Receiving these transfers means a brighter future for my children because now I will be able to use the 3000 KES that I will be getting every month to pay their fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy that I can still be able to find small jobs in the community and provide for my family's basic needs and still educate my children. This is something that I have always prayed never to lack even when things are tough.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My challenges are mainly lack of finances to take my children through school with ease. This has however been contributed to by the scarcity of jobs in my area. I value education and the thought of me not fulfilling the promise I made to my children of taking them to school is frustrating.