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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be updated on Celestine's next check-in.
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($26 USD)
access_time 4 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
First and foremost, I wish to express my deep gratitude to Give Directly for their invaluable financial assistance. Without their generosity, pursuing my dream course would have remained a distant dream. I directed the entire recent $102 transfer towards settling my school fees, as my exams are looming, and I aimed to clear any unpaid balances.
Moreover, these transfers have significantly eased the financial burden on my mother, who used to work tirelessly as a peasant farmer. Previously, she endured strenuous labor to secure funds for my education, but thankfully, this is no longer the case.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I've enrolled in a beauty and therapy course, due to my passion for the field. It's truly a dream come true. Initially, I doubted if I'd ever get the chance to pursue this passion in a classroom setting. However, thanks to the financial support from Give Directly, I've been able to turn this lifelong dream into reality.
At present, my focus is entirely on my studies. In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to fully immerse myself in my coursework to achieve the best possible outcomes. Once I've completed my studies, I'll shift my focus to saving up for equipment to further enhance my professional practice.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($21 USD)
access_time 7 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before I started receiving the monthly cash transfer from Givedirectly, getting my hands on the required school fees for my hair and beauty college studies was a struggle. My parents, unfortunately, are unemployed, and couldn't afford to support my training. Staying home due to lack of school fees was the norm. so recently with the Giivedirectly transfers I received amounting to $102, I was able to pay my college fees. Givedirectly's support has transformed my educational journey from a constant struggle to a smooth journey. I'm glad a heavy burden has been lifted from my shoulders.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The first thing on my agenda is to save up and purchase the necessary equipment to start my own salon business. I've always had a passion for making people feel confident, and this seems like the perfect opportunity to turn that passion into a reality. It's just not going to be about me. My parents have been living in a house that's seen better days, tilting slightly to one side. With the earnings from my business, I'm determined to build them a more comfortable home, providing them the stability they deserve. .
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 11 months ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am currently in college undertaking a hair dressing and beauty therapy course, but due to my parent's inability to fully raise the required school fee owing to their low income, I support them by using my transfers to pay part of the fee.
While in highschool, the transfers helped pay part of my fees which is the reason I was able to complete without any arrears. It would also be great to complete the two years of my training and not have my certificate withheld due to failure to complete my fees hence the reason I am disciplined and focused on having zero balances. Thanks to these transfers I believe I will achieve this.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At the moment, my major goal is to ensure I pay the required fees for the course I am currently undertaking on hairdressing and beauty therapy. I therefore have no choice but to ensure that I channel most, if not all of my transfers towards fee payment. I will be graduating towards the end of next year so as I edge towards graduation, I will start building up on savings that can later on enable me to open my own beauty parlour. This however will only be possible once I manage to clear next year's school fees.
Should I fail to raise enough money to start the business soon enough after graduation, I will seek employment in any beauty parlor that may be open to hiring me so that I can gain more experience as I continue saving. For now however, I have to focus on completing the course.
10th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($25 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am currently a student studying cosmetics and beauty. My journey with Givedirectly has been an interesting one. I have had a chance to go through school using Givedirectly funds. Last year I used my transfers to go through high school and was able to go through school to the end. I decided to join This college in March and since then I use $30 of my transfers monthly to pay my school fees. I use the rest of the $4 on buying shopping ranging from food or toiletries depending on my need at the time of receiving the transfers.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal is to ensure I clear school. My parents are farmers and do not make much I depend on my siblings for financial support, they too have their families that depend on them. I want to be able to achieve independence. With this skills as a hair stylist and a beauty professional I can open my own place where I will provide this services and get paid for them. This will allow me to become self sufficient and even help my parents with their needs.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
3470 KES ($28 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the lastborn in a family of nine siblings and I just cleared my secondary education last year December. My school was far away from home and thus together with my three classmates, we had to rent a house to live in. The rent was $20 thus we each contributed $5 to settle the bill. With the transfers that I have been receiving, I have been using $25 to pay for my school fees so that I remain in school uninterrupted and continue with my studies. With the most recent transfer that I received in January, I paid a registration fee of $20 to enroll in a hairdressing college that I intend to begin in the second week of February. I also bought some uniforms at a cost of $14 to wear to school. I am grateful that this organization has helped me clear my school bills.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As I continue to receive these transfers, I hope to keep paying my college school fees till I finish my studies. Afterward, I would like to start my own salon and also buy some livestock to rear at home.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($25 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am the third born in a family of 4 children and am currently in form 4 studying at Mnazimwenga secondary school. I stay with my mother who relies only on casual jobs with very low pay while my father raises livestock to feed the family. I was so elated to be enrolled in GiveDirectly program as it marked a new dawn in brightening my future. Paying my fees remained the greatest challenge to my parents due to too many family demands. I owe the school $ 117 as fees arrears, therefore, reducing my fees arrears was my number one first priority item. I paid $ 20 as my fee, and paying the fees helped reduced the amount from $ 117 to $ 87. This has made me stressed-free from being sent back home for fees hence increased in my concentration while in class. The remaining $10 I paid my rent in school. I am to sit my final exams this December, hence renting a house next to school will facilitate easy movement which helps save on time that I would be using to move from home to the school. I am so grateful for the GiveDirectly support.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, what GiveDirectly is doing well is giving out cash transfers to the less privileged in society. This has brought change into the whole community as many are using these funds to buy food, pay school fees, and start businesses while others have used their money to start house construction which in turn improved family health greatly hence reducing the level of conflicts in the society. In addition, I also loved the fact that the transfers are unconditional, meaning everyone is given a chance to buy whatever they wish unlike other projects from organizations that only give food for support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($10 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was instantly overwhelmed with so much excitement the minute I realized the arrival of the money, and this is because it finally meant that I could chip in with the needs at home because my parents was struggling financially to even put a meal on the table.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Hunger is one of our biggest challenges in the house so when I realized that the money had arrived I decided to use KES 400 and purchase two packets of maize flour. I also went ahead and paid KES 350 as part of my rent money. Apart from that I also saved KES 300 in case I needed the money later on, and lastly used KES 100 to buy a pair of shoes and KES 50 bought laundry detergent .
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
In this particular situation nutrition was definitely the most important thing that I'm grateful for because I was struggling to even have a meal and yet I couldn't ask my parents as well because they didn't have money on them either.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Trekking to school makes my academic life so strenuous. The distance between home to school is approximately 3km. Imagine walking for 6km every day. Sometimes I feel like giving up but when I think of my future, I keep pressing on.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I enjoy good health and this gives me comfort. Wellness enables me to attend school like everyone else. I have never been sick since this year started and I am very thankful for that.
What does receiving this money mean to you?
This money is an assurance of good education and well-being. I am a form four student at Mnazimmwenga secondary school. My school journey has faced lots of hurdles, the main one being lack of school fees. I have a sister who is also schooling. My parents who are only charcoal burners, cannot match up with the fee requirements because of their little income. In a good month, they make 5,000 KES. This amount only caters for food. I plan to start livestock production which will aid in raising my school fees from now to university. I would not want my dream of becoming a high school teacher to be cut short. With 15,000 KES, I will buy 6 goats. Slowly, my animals will multiply and I will be selling them whenever I will be required to clear tuition fees.