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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received a confirmation on my mobile phone that I had received KES 55000 from Give Directly, I felt so happy and thankful for the financial support. I knew that all the worries about cash would be over. At that time, I had nothing withing my disposal to spend on paying school fees and buying food.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life is different in that I am now free from stress unlike before. I am happy that now we have enough food. I paid school fees for my children without much struggle and I am not buried in debts like I used to be when I was not receiving these transfers. All these have made me a happier person and a proud mother.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The first transfers which I had received from Give Directly, I spent KES 20000 to pay school fees for my two children who are in High school. Before, I was struggling to raise money to cater for their school fees but it was really hard for me since the wage is hardly enough for my basic needs like food. After paying the school fees, I bought a heifer for rearing. I didn't have a cow and for sometime I had been yearning to have one so that when it matures we would have milk for use at home and for sale. The remaining portion I spent on buying some clothes for my children and also some food items in large quantities which would sustain us for some weeks.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been aspiring to own a cow and thus receiving this money mean I will be able own a cow. I have been buying milk for my family and it is costly on my side. I use around 0.2 USD daily to buy milk and yet I have a place where I can keep my own. Thanks to Give Directly since I will soon own a cow and improve the living standard of my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of day is in the evening. I usually go to other people's farms (after my children have left for school) to work as a casual labourer (weeding, digging, among other available jobs) up to late in the evening. Going back home with some money (after being paid) to buy food for my family makes me feel rejuvenated and whole again, and more so, makes me feel that I have fulfill my duty as a parent.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Raising a family single handedly and being unemployed has been the biggest hardship I have faced in life. I have 2 school going children and both are in primary school yet their fees is costly. I pay approximately 300 USD per year as school fees for both children yet I rely on casual labour to meet the school and family's expenses. I normally work within the village and in different places as a casual laborer which is hard to come by and when I get a job, I am paid between 1 and 2 USD a day. As such, the income I get is hardly enough to fend for the entire family.
