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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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($523 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that I have been able to pay school fees for my three children who were in various schools. One of them has already completed her education and I am optimistic that she will be employed and come back to help the family. I am also looking forward to taking my other two children to their tertiary education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did so well in doing their work independently which meant that they were so fair. The officers could not allow anybody from the village to influence the decision to enroll anyone. I honestly did not find anything with GiveDirectly that I thought they should improve on. I can only encourage them to continue with the same spirit and even improve the more.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I used KES 30000 from my second transfer to pay school fees for my two sons who were in secondary school then. One of them has since completed his secondary school education and is looking forward to joining secondary school. I also used part of the remaining transfer to buy a cow worth KES 20000 and the remainder was used to buy the basic household needs for the family. I particularly chose to buy a dairy cow to be a remembrance of GiveDirectly transfers and to help me pay school fees and meet other family investments or needs in future should they arise. I feel so much indebted to GiveDirectly for their support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($536 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The greatest difference in my life ever since I started receiving transfers from Give Directly is that I was able to pay school fees with ease. Initially, I was thinking of calling for a fund drive or even borrowing from friends. We had sold some of our valuable assets because we urgently needed to pay school fees for our children yet we did not have stable jobs. While we were wondering what next Give Directly came to our village and chose me as one of the beneficiaries. I am among those people who were greatly relieved. I am really hopeful to regain some of the assets I had sold out
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy when I received my transfer. I was anxiously waiting for the money after I was enrolled as I had some pressing need of paying school fees for my three children in university and high school. I was filled with joy and I had reason to smile again after a long period of struggle and worries.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
The greatest challenge we have been facing is paying school fees for our children. I believe in investing in your kids' education that is why I gave mine the first priority. A larger portion of what I received from Give Directly was used in paying school fees. I have two in high school and one in university. I am now not worried because I managed to pay their fees on time. I spent the remaining amount on buying a few clothes and farm inputs. I thank Give Directly for helping me solve my biggest worry.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am planning to build a two bedroom house made of wood to replace this one which is made of mud.I also want to start buying and selling eggs.This was a business I had tried sometime back but collapsed due to lack of funds.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The first duty I do early morning is feeding the cows.I then embark on farm work.Currently I am preparing my farm ready for planting beans for the second season.In the afternoon I prepare lunch and do the normal house chores until darkness sets in.Of all these,the happiest part is feeding the cows because when they are well fed I get milk from them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It is a dream of every parent that a child gets education to the highest level possible.It has been a struggle trying to achieve this since my husband and I dont have a main source of income.We mainly depend on agriculture and livestock keeping.The weather and climatic changes affects farming in this area.Most of the time we experience prolonged drought.I have 10 children and getting school fees has been the biggest hardship.All we get is channelled to school fees.This leaves very little to other basic needs such a s food and shelter.Though my two children have completed college there is still a long way to go since my last born is in pre-primary school.
