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.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Well, I haven't noticed anything that you need to improve on for now. I just want to appreciate you for helping the poor achieve their goals.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Lack of income has lead us to live in an almost crumbling house. When night falls, my peace of mind disappears, you would notice the thoughts and worries of sleeping in the same house by looking at my gloomy face. My biggest worry is the house crumbling and burying us all inside it. My husband and I had planned to save towards building another house but we have not been able to save enough because during this drought season, he sells very little local beer since majority of his clients does have money to by alcohol as they have to feed their families from the little that they earn. My goal was to support my husband in building a permanent house and have started working towards it since I saved KES 1500 of my last transfer an amount which I'm looking forward to saving from every monthly transfer. I spent the balance of KES 1000 to pay school fees and by my daughter school uniform and KES 500 to buy food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Prior to day transfer were sent, I had been anticipating that I could receive some money soon, although I did not know when that would be. So when the transfer were sent, I felt so happy and some unexplained peace within me. It was about 10 o'clock in the morning and I was just taking a rest in the house. All through, I had been imagining on how I would make my daughters to celebrate Christmas. The transfer date was really timely.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life after receiving my most recent transfer is the peace of mind and excitement I saw in my daughters during the 2021 Christmas season. As mother, I felt some sense of pride to see my daughters smart and presentable on 25th December, 2021. Although I always buy for them clothes during festive season, this time round, it was better than the previous years.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My transfer was sent during the festive season although I had no money to plan and make my children have a better feeling of the Christmas festive as it had been our routine. Therefore, when I confirmed receipt of the transfer, I spent it on buying some descent clothes for my three daughters. What an excitement? I could not hide my joy to see them in a celebratory mood throughout the festive season. I am indebted to GiveDirectly because without the transfer, I would have not bought them clothes.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Everyday here is a nightmare! I have a good house and I can afford quality food for my family, but we're always constantly reminded that we do not belong. This piece of land is owned by my husband's brother who allowed his brothers to build houses upon his late father's request. But now that the father is gone, he's always harassing them to go look for their own places. It would be wise for us at this point to just save up and buy a piece of land to build a home we can call our own.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Times are already hard enough and I can't say there's much to smile about but I'm always happy whenever I'm done doing my household chores and get to rest. This is normally afternoon when I have fetched water and finished cleaning.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
It's somehow been hard to raise school fees in time for my child who's currently at grade two attending a local private school. The services are of good quality and affordable, but 400KES per academic term isn't easy to get as a housewife. We're currently depending on my husband's income of about 600KES per day which he generates from the sales of a local brew. But he doesn't find it necessary to save for school fees and most of the time we struggle a lot to pay when that time comes.
