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?
Since the beginning of this year, I have received 6000 KES from Give Directly. My priorities are normally food and clearing unsettled fee balances at my child’s school. So I used KES 2,600 to buy food and KES 1000 to pay for my son's school fees. From the remaining amount, I saved KES 2000 through a self-help group with expectations to withdraw the accumulated amount at the end of the year.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I paid for my child's primary school fee of 1300 KES so that she could go back to school. She had stayed home for two days before the money was sent. Prior to that, she had been sent back home severally but I kept requesting the teachers to let her stay at school as I raised her fees. At that point, I was already stuck and did not know what to do because the teachers could not take my excuses anymore. Am glad Give Directly came right on time, and she managed to get back to school. KES 3400 I spent on both food stuffs and detergents that we did not have in our household. While KES 1500 I saved in a savings and loaning group. In three months' time, I am planning to borrow some loans from the group to start up a second-hand cloth business. This will be a great source of income which I believe will improve our lives. I still stay with my parents who do odd jobs which are not reliable and pay about KES 100 daily whenever they are lucky to get one. The load is too much on them and I can not wait to support them when my business picks.
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?
This program is very helpful because even without this money my child would have probably have sent back home due to the arrears that I had yet to pay and I honestly have no idea what I would have fed my children especially with this ongoing famine so I am most definitely thankful and elated.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I actually had a debt in tuittion fee at my daughters school but since I had spoken to her teachers to give me sometime she stayed and continued with her studies so when I received the money I immediately went ahead and settled the debt by paying KES 1,000. Also with the drought that has really affected us negatively especially in our farms, I decided to buy a bag of maize which contained twelve packets at KES 1,200, two kilograms of beans worth KES 240, two kilograms of sugar worth KES 230 and sardines at KES 100. Then the last thing I bought was laundry detergent worth KES 100.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Well i was from fetching water down the stream at around 10 am in the morning. When i got home i heard my phone ringing. I went ahead and looked into it. I found out that i had received money from Give Directly. I was very happy and filled with joy. I immediately told my mum thhe good news and we smilled together.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference to date is about my children and their education. Previously my childdren would be sent home and would spend 2 to 3 days home before goiung back to school. Currently their education has not been intereupted in any way and so i really happy for that.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used the cash to pay school fees for my children since they had already been sent home dye to lack of school fees. The rest of the money i bought fooid for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Starting a business has been my ambition when I obtain working capital. Being a single mother of two and having no dependent source of income saddens my heart. My kids need to be taken care of in terms of education and their basic needs. The business of selling firewood brings little profit compared to the past four months where I was able to collect 250 KES in a day. For that reason, I intend to apply for a loan to start a business selling second-hand clothes here in the village using the transfers. I am sure my children will never miss their basic needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My kid leaves home for school in the morning after he left I start preparing early lunch to pack it for him. In the afternoon I retire from home to collect firewood in the forest. I get back at 6 pm when I take a rest after such a long day planning for the next day.This gives me joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a single mum of two kids. I was once married but due to misunderstandings, we ended up parting ways. I had to come back to my father's home since then, life has not been easy on my side. My ex-husband never bothers to extend assistance to the kids. I was left with the burden of raising the kids alone. My family rejected me and denied me the freedom of accessing any family property. The business of selling firewood is what I depend on gives me 100 KES in a day. The firstborn son is in grade three and his school fees need to be paid. Therefore obtaining a dependent source of income has been great hardship in my life.
