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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The major challenging I am currently facing is the ability to provide for my family. My job includes working on various manual jobs such as burning charcoal, selling vegetables and fetching water for other people for pay. The pay I get from these jobs is very little and is not enough to take care of all my family's needs. My husband works as a mason and the job is not daily. When I received my transfer, I was thrilled because it was a boost for me to support my family. I spent a bigger portion of the transfer to buy food for the family. I bought 2kgs of sugar, 12 packets of 2 kg sugar, bread, tea leaves, cooking oil all at a price of KSH 2000. My 5 children were home due to school fees arrears, so I spent the remaining KSH 1000 to make up the difference. I am glad that they could go back to school and continued with their education.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 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?
I can pay school fees quickly without strain unlike before. I don't see anything bad that they should change.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This transfer was a blessing in disguise. My children had been sent home due to school fees arrears and I was able to quickly withdraw the money and send them back to school. I used Kes.1000 to pay for five kids. I then decided to buy two chicks for KES.500 which would be passive income. The rest of the money was used for food and water. We have to pay for water being shipped from the nearest watering hole. I used the remaining KES.1500 to buy food and water. This would not be possible without her. She knows me better so she should do it.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 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 at home relaxing after I had just finished fetching water from the nearest stream. I had gotten so tired that I gladly accepted. It has been a challenge to get a new phone but I thank God that it agitated me. I was happy and patient.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life would be that sometimes we would only have one meal a day but thanks to this source of income we can plan before the money gets here as it is guaranteed. We would take one meal a day and now we happily eat three healthy nutritious meals. I am thankful that I was able to be at the right place at the right time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
These past few months there have been times where it was very difficult to survive. I took the first option of getting a phone which would be deducted from the transfer sent. The pay meant for this is KES.1800. The next thing I prioritized is buying dry foodstuff which coated me KES.500. I was also able to pay school fees for the younger ones. We thank everyone who has helped to get us where we are now. I cannot express my words to Give directly for choosing our small village to help.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have 7 children, 6 of who I live with under the same roof. My house is one bedroom, with no clear partition. When my husband comes home from town (where he works as a mason, earning 8000KES per month), the kitchen section serves as a bedroom for my children. For the quite matured children, they sought sleep from their elder brother who built his small, mud-walled, and grass-thatched house at least to give us some privacy. I am planning to use my transfers to start building my own house. My prayer is someday, sleep with my children in a decent house.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Problems have overwhelmed me so far, ranging from lack of food, education to poor housing. I will be very happy if someday I would be able to solve even half of these problems.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My family size is relatively big (7 children). 5 of my children who are in school depend on fee payments to continue with school. My husband, a mason earns a paltry 8000KES per month, an amount that is not sustainable to our basic needs. My children are frequently sent out of school due to huge fee balances. My children have become the talk of the town for being out of school, something that is discouraging them from continuing with their studies. It is disheartening for me as a parent to see I cannot afford to keep my children in school.
