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 ($444 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I did not have any new goal, We had planned with my family members on how to spend the transfer. I knew I would be able to pay school fees for my son who is in secondary school. This was to enable him to study well without being disturbed. Secondly was to buy a heifer. Sometimes we would buy milk and it was so costly for us. We are so happy about the support from GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by giving money to the poor in the community to improve their living standard. Most of the people were able to build better houses and pay school fees for their children in various schools. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly Did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 25,000 on school fees for my son who is in secondary school. This was the main challenge that I was facing since I do not have a continuous source of income. My son would be sent home and this was affecting his performance. Currently, he is studying well without being disturbed. I spent KES 15,000 on purchasing a heifer. sometimes we would buy milk and this was so costly for us. I will cut this cost when it reproduces in the next few months. The remaining amount of money I spent on clothes, food and household items.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 a.m. and I was at home having breakfast with my family before I could head to the farm. Suddenly, my phone rang and I decided to check it since I had it with me. I was surprised and I could not believe it when I read that I had received KES 55000 that GiveDirectly had promised us. I was so happy and I immediately broke the good news to my family. They were so happy upon hearing this and we celebrated together giving thanks. We even forgot that we were taking our breakfast. That day was hence the happiest to us.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that the transfer has brought into our lives is that with having bought the water tank, we have managed to collect rainwater and hence we now have access to clean water for our household use. The children are also happy because they now have new clothes to wear and enough food to eat.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
We spent KES 21000 of our recent transfer on buying a 3000-liter water tank. We bought it because in our area we usually experience prolonged dry sessions and accessing clean water for our household use is a big challenge. We hence bought the water tank so that we could use it to collect clean rainwater for our use. We were not able to buy this water tank before though it has always been our wish to buy one since most of the money that I usually make from my casual job as a broker, usually goes to purchase food and paying school fees for my five children. Other than that, we also bought two bags of maize for our consumption at a total cost of about KES 5000 and some clothes for us and the children at a total cost of KES 10000. We also spent KES 12000 on paying school fees for one of our children who is in secondary school and we bought some school items for him with the remaining transfer money. We are hence so much grateful to GiveDirectly for their big support.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Education is the tip of the economical iceberg in our country and as a parent, I always wish the best for my children. We should all agree by now that today's generation is driven by financial capabilities that are derived from well-educated minds. Unfortunately, paying school fees for my 5 children in school has been a challenge. As a family, we derive our finances from the small business of buying and selling cattle, which mostly depends on the available capital especially on Monday, the market day. In each instance, I earn KES 600 which caters for school fees partway hence some arrears. It pains me that my children have to stay out of school periodically, and I am seen as if I have abdicated. When I receive these transfers, I aim at using KES 30000 to clear fees for the entire year. It will be a sigh of relief for I will be able to divert funds to concentrate on other basic needs such as food for the household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a backup strategy to earn income, I sowed 20kilograms of beans in 0.5acre of my land in September 2021. Fortunately, there were sufficient rains with pest and disease almost negligible. I was excited when we reaped 200kilograms in December 2021, which was used to offset the fees arrears of my daughter in grade 9.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial impediments are a challenge I am currently facing. I am a businessman who depends on buying and selling cattle to earn KES 600 every week to support my family of 7. This is however insufficient and I am restricted on investments. I am always embarrassed borrowing money from friends, to support my family which leaves me mostly in debt.
