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 ($463 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?
My goal which I am aiming to achieve is to see my children progressing in their studies. If I get some money, I will invest it fully to my children’s education. But so doing, I will be building a good generation in my family since education is the key to greater life in our Kenya today.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Initially, getting some money to pay school fees for my children was a nightmare. I used to fetch some firewood and take them to the school for the head teacher to either buy them or just convert them to school fees. As of now, I am grateful that my children are in now continuing with their education without being sent home for fees as before.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the second transfer, the first thing I did was paying KES 30000.00 school fees for my five children. Two children are in secondary school while three are in primary school. The reason for paying tgem school fees was to ensure that they are retained in school so as to have ample time for their studies. I also bought three goats for KES 10000.00 and ten pieces of iron sheets for KES 10000.00. These iron sheets are for constructing a house for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($489 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Before resting when I was from fetching water some miles away from, I received a message in my phone. Lucky enough my husband who is also my helper was around and since I don’t know how to read I handed over the phone to him to see what the message is all about not even expecting any good news about money. To be sincere, I expected a promotional message which I usually receive from different senders. He smiled as he was reading the message; I became curious and moved closer only to whisper to me that the first transfer has been sent to us by GiveDirectly. I was filled with happiness for the act that the organization did to me; looking at my husband his face was full of appreciation.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Initially I was not at peace as far as my children school fee is concerned. Relying on selling at most 2 bags of charcoal after two or three days was not sufficient to cater for the family upkeep and education. But the biggest difference I can attest is that I managed to settle the school fee issue and my children are comfortably continuing with their studies.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon withdrawing the money, I took KES 30000.00 and paid school fees for my secondary school children and KES 1000.00 for my primary school child. I also bought 10 pieces of iron sheets for KES 8000.00 so as to construct a house for my children. Thereafter, I bought a bed for KES 6000.00 because the one I had was very small and also a sack of maize for KES 3400.00.
For the remaining amount, I reserved them for the family upkeep.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have 2 sons' in secondary school, one in his 4th year in secondary and the second in his 2nd year. The payment of their school fees has been a big hardship on me because my husband is a motorcycle operator and I am doing charcoal business of which our earnings cannot sustain the needs of our house plus paying the school fees for my 2 children in secondary school . I also have 3 sons in primary school .I have been relying on my brothers and my in-laws to pay for my children's education. Receiving this money means I will be relieved the burden of school fees for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day starts very early, I every day woke up at 4 am , prepare porridge for my children who goes to school and leave my house to fetch water. Many water pans have dried because of the prolonged drought which has persisted for 10 months now and the one with drinking water is 3 kilometres away from my house. I have to leave the house early so that I can come back early in order to attend my charcoal business. My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I am resting and enjoying my food with my children thanking God for finishing the day safely.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My 2 children are in secondary school. The payment of school fees is the biggest hardship I am facing in my life .I depend on my brothers to pay for them and they have their own families and children.
