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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Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($154 USD)
access_time 26 days ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home alone when I received a message from GiveDirectly informing me that I had received $200. I was overjoyed, knowing that many of my needs would soon be met. My first thought was to address the food situation in my household, as it had been a concern for us. I eagerly waited for my husband and children to come home so I could share the good news with them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference since I started receiving cash transfers from GiveDirectly has been in the areas of food and housing. Before this support, my family often struggled to put enough food on the table, which made it difficult to save money. Now, with a consistent supply of food, I have been able to build a saving culture within my family. Most of my income no longer goes toward buying food, allowing us to set aside money for other needs.
In terms of housing, I am almost finished building my own house. For seven years, I lived in a borrowed home, which often felt uncertain and temporary. Now, the dream of becoming a homeowner is within reach. Soon, we will move into our new house, bringing a sense of stability and pride to my family. This transformation has truly changed our lives for the better, and I am incredibly grateful for the support from GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving $200 from GiveDirectly, I immediately focused on my family's most pressing need: food. Where I live, crops do not grow well, so we rely heavily on buying our meals. With my unstable casual jobs, food insecurity has always been a challenge for my family. I spent $50 to buy food, and now we have enough to eat, which brings me great relief. After addressing our food needs, I used $130 to work on completing my house. I have been living in a borrowed home for seven years. While I didn’t have to pay rent, I longed for a place to call my own. Now, my house is almost complete, and I cannot thank GiveDirectly enough for helping me achieve this significant milestone. Owning a home is a dream come true for my family, and it has brought us a sense of stability and hope for the future.
Enrolled
access_time 3 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The construction on our three-roomed house has been stalled since December last year. All our family income is currently directed towards paying for my daughter Purity’s school fees. We are currently living in a borrowed house, so I am grateful that the transfers from GiveDirectly will help us complete our home. This will cost $500 of the transfers. I want my daughter to have peace of mind and humble time at school without being sent home to fetch school fees. I will therefore spend $230 of the transfers to pay school fees and the remaining money to buy food for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My daughter performed exceptionally well in her Kenya Certificate for Primary Education, scoring 356 marks, equivalent to an A-minus grade. I was concerned she might not secure admission to secondary school due to our financial struggles, which was a particularly challenging time for me. I was filled with joy and happiness when my daughter Purity secured an admission to Ruth Kiptui secondary school.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
We are finding it challenging to make ends meet as our income is unstable. I work as a casual laborer, and my husband is a livestock farmer. Paying for our daughter Purity Chebet’s school fees is a significant burden. However, I believe that education will provide her with a brighter future, which motivates me to work diligently. Our struggle does not end there, putting food on the table is also another challenge. Skipping meals is not new to us, it is our survival strategy for my family.
