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 ($518 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before GiveDirectly sent the transfer,I had stress since I didn't have money to pay school fees for my children. I have not been able to get menial jobs in the month of January and my husband also had no job hence entirely everyone was relying on me. This had been a burden to me bearing in mind my income is very minimal to provide for my family.My life has been different after I received my transfers since I have regained happiness and peace out of paying school fees for my children on time. Although, their are arrears left , it not that overwhelming as before. On the other hand, I bought goats that serves as my financial security in future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well as it was transparent, efficient and genuine. Additionally, unlike the other organizations, there was no one to connect with GiveDirectly for one to benefit. Instead, you only dealt with GD staff directly.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent 24,000 KES of my second transfer to pay school fees for my two children who are in secondary school and two in primary school respectively. I paid all the college fees and bought the requirements for my son who was enrolling in college. The remaining amount I bough food for my family consumption.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
It is my responsibility to meet my family's basic needs thus I work hard to earn something to cater for these. I always feel good when I see a happy and healthy family but unhappy and stressed when my family misses the basic necessities. I take my children's education seriously since this is the key to their brighter future. I have two daughters in high school and raising their fee with the limited resources in our family had been so challenging. Through GiveDirectly money, my children are comfortable in school studying without interruptions since I have cleared their school fees. I am at peace now because this has given me an opportunity to prepare for the next term payment. We mainly depend on casual jobs to which has minimal income thus receiving this transfer has enabled us to save more for our children's education. I am so happy my children have humble time study unlike before. To me, this so far is the biggest difference in my daily life.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I had a sound sleep that night. Later in the morning, I took my phone to check for any new notification. I found a message and I went ahead to check the content. It was a message from Give Directly confirming that I had received money. I felt so happy and I immediately broke the news to my family whom we rejoiced together and planned how best to spend it.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my first transfer, I took KES 20000 to clear school fees for my two daughters in high school. This will give them enough time to continue with their studies without interruptions. I also took KES 10000 to settle fee arrears for my son who was not able to collect his certificates after completing his secondary school studies. I am happy that my son can now further his studies since he has his certificate unlike when it was withheld in school. Apart from paying the school fees, I purchased goats to rear in my homestead. I settled on this since I see them as added assets and financial security to lean on during hard times in the family. I spent the remaining amount to cater for my household basic needs such as foodstuffs and settling household expenses.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means achieving my major goal of educating my children. I have two girls in secondary school and a boy who completed form four but cannot proceed to college because he lacks his certificate of completion due to fee arrears at the school. With my transfers, I will clear the balances and purchase goats as financial security for future educational needs. This is because goats are more drought resistant and affordable.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I come home from the construction sites where I mostly do casual work like ferrying building materials such as water, cement, stones etc. The work is labour intensive and drains a lot of my energy. However, in the afternoon is when I rest and regain my strength.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Our biggest hardship is inadequate finances to meet the educational needs of our children such as fees, uniform and stationery. The income my husband and I get from the odd jobs we do i.e. construction and tapping palm wine is barely enough for food. Our children are frequently sent home to collect fee balances thus interrupting their studies. Our first born son has been unsuccessful in his endeavours to join college because he lacks his secondary school certificate of completion due to fee arrears. It is very frustrating at times.
