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?
We have been experiencing a prolonged dry season for the previous three years. As a result of this situation, local streams have dried up, making it difficult to access water in our locality. You must trek for three hours to obtain water. Furthermore, food costs have steadily risen, resulting in the famine that we are currently experiencing. So, when I got my transfer, I decided to use some of it to buy food and water, as these are necessities. As a result of my financial distress, I was unable to provide meals for my family of five. I just work on the farm, subsistence farming, which has been unsuccessful for the past three years due to insufficient rainfall.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does its best by giving us the transfer. It has brought personal development to our community and awakened the long died dreams. I have not seen anything bad GiveDirectly is doing.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Receiving money from GiveDirectly came as a great surprise to me. It makes me believe that good person still exist in this world. I am a mother of three boys, a farmer and my husband is a motocyclist. I received both the first transfer of KES. 1200 after acquiring a new phone at KES. 1800. It helped me in paying KES. 500 school fees for my one son and buying food with the rest.
With the second transfer, I spent KES. 500 in farming, KES. 400 in buying been seeds, KES. 1000 on buying animal salt. KES. 500 spent on buying a chicken. KES. 600 on floor of 3 packets at KES. 120. And the remaining amount on sugar and other basic needs.
I am now able to eat well and pay school fees without any issues. Thank you so much for the support. You have awaken my dreams.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That morning I had woken up very early so that I could go fetch water for domestic use in the use since we had run out and the water scarcity made me walk almost two hours to my destination where I got the drinking water. On my way back is when I saw the message and I was elated I almost dropped the water because I wanted to scream and jump with excitement because I knew with the money I would at least afford a meal.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It has honestly changed my life in a great way because I could finally clear my debts with the school and I also afforded to place a meal o the table and avoid my family going to bed hungry as it occurred occasionally a couple of times so in other words I am very grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The moment I received the money the first thought I had was settling the debt in school fees for one of my kids although I had three and this because he kept being sent home almost on a daily basis and so I decided to pay KES 500 to avoid any further inconviniences and so that he would no longer get sent home. Since we have been experiencing severe drought in the village and the crops keep dying due to lack of rain I bought four packets of maize flour for KES 400, water worth KES 200 since there was scarcity in water as well and finally half a kilogram of sugar, cooking oil and salt which was KES 100.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means building a better house for myself. The two bed-room I am leaving is not spacious, as one of the rooms serves as the kitchen during the day. As well, whenever I receive visitors, I fail to accommodate them, instead I borough they sleep. The GiveDirectly transfers will help me extend a third room, which will be for my visitors. Also, I plan to build a small house that will serve as a kitchen.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I have enough food for my children, I feel very happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband is the sole provider in the family. However, he is unemployed. He depends on a motorbike for hire, which is relatively expensive. For no choice, he has to do the work which is exhaustive with poor returns. I feel bad seeing my husband unable to provide the best for our children, despite the struggle he goes through daily.
