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
55000 KES ($459 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am glad that I was able to accomplish most of the plans that I had before receiving the transfer. At the moment, I have a new goal to construct a new house. Currently, I have a single-room grass thatched house that plays the role of both sitting room and kitchen during the day and turns into a bedroom at night. I am planning to start up a family before the year ends which will make the house to be more squeezed. I am hoping to construct a two-room iron roofed house before I bring my fiance to stay with me and use the current house as a kitchen.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, the household cash transfer was a great idea in that we managed to invest a lot in improving houses, school fees for our children, livestock, and subsistence farming that we had been struggling with. The freedom to decide on how to spend it without anyone asking for repayment enabled every individual to address their household needs. On the other hand, some people were not included in the program, but they are most deserving than even some of us who received the support. No one knows why they were left out since we do not know GiveDirectly's selection criteria. If possible then people should be informed why they are not successful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Farming has been our main source of income and the backbone of our family economy. The second transfer was instrumental to me in purchasing a dairy cow worth KES 30000. I am yet to get married and would not wish for my spouse to stay idle and fully dependent on me. She will therefore be fully in charge of the cow and once the cow will have given birth, she will be earning some income from the milk sales. Besides, we shall also be assured of enough milk for the family once it will have given birth. I also rented a two-acre piece of land at KES 10000 for farming maize and used KES 3000 to plow it. We have a small piece of land that is shared by my brothers and parents. Since I am yet to start up a family, I believe that this is a good investment and my income will improve. I still have KES 12000 saved to be used for both planting and weeding labor.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 4.30 pm when I saw the Mpesa message indicating that KES 55000 had been deposited into my account. I immediately knew that it was the promised money that I had been eagerly waiting for and my heart was filled with joy. Even though I did not cash it out immediately, I was at peace that I would finally fulfill my dream in life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My main goal was to graduate and at least have a TSC number before the end of this year so that looking for a job will not be difficult for me. Having KES 12000 school fees areas that I am to pay before going for teaching practice when the schools reopen is so far the biggest difference in my life. This is because the transfer enabled me to pay most of my school fees and due to this, I am hopeful of graduating since finances were my major obstacles. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for supporting me to achieve this goal.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a BOM teacher in one of our neighboring schools and I have been on a school-based program and sometimes studying online except for examinations that we have to do in person. I have been spending my salary to pay for my school fees as we as to support my aging mother. This was always not enough and I was recently very worried that I would not be able to graduate this year due to fee arrears. GiveDirectlys transfer came in handy as I was able to spend KES 30000 to pay for my school fees after using KES 5000 to repay a debt that I had. In addition, I spent KEs 13000 on food and some personal items that I needed and I still have KES 6000 that I am planning to spend after receiving my second transfer.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
In 2017, I took the initiative of enrolling on my undergraduate studies at Mount Kenya University, after 5 years of struggling to seek employment. It has always been my desire to complete these studies and look for a stable source of income but unfortunately, finances could not allow me. I have been saving the KES 7000 I earn from my primary school teaching job to at least reduce the KES 50000 arrears that have prevented me from graduating. When I receive these transfers, I intend to clear these arrears, graduate and look for a permanent teaching job with the teacher's service commission. I will be happy and thankful that my ambition of a completed education will come to pass.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Many times poverty is associated with sickness. I am grateful that despite my financial status, this has not been the case. I am glad that in the past 6 months, my health has been on the top-notch and I have neither visited the hospital nor failed to attend work because of sickness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Raising school fees for my undergraduate studies is a challenge I am currently facing. When I completed grade 12 in 2012, I began being independent since I could no longer rely on my widowed mother who was also struggling from her end. I sort a job as a PTA teacher in a nearby primary school that pays me KES 7000 a month. Since this income is dependant on how the parents clear the fees arrears, the school can even stay for up to 3 months for the payment to be initiated hence I have nothing to save towards my school fees. It pains me that I have to work longer to be able to raise my school fee arrears and be able to graduate thus be financially stable.
