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 ($485 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has really changed a great deal after receiving the transfers. All the accomplishments I have made right from the investment in livestock, construction of new houses, paying school fees for my three children, buying them new clothing, and also foodstuff would not have been possible if I had never received the transfers. I am grateful and hope that what GiveDirectly started in our lives will keep glowing in the future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am grateful to have been part of this great project initiated and executed by GiveDirectly in our village. This was a huge project that allowed me to make a difference in my life. The whole process from the enrollment stage to receiving the two transfers went so well as everyone was and is still happy within the village after spending the money. With an opportunity to spend on whatever we chose to, everyone got a chance to make their dreams come true. No one has ever complained of the project as it was fair without any bias.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the first KES30000 of the second transfer, I obtained the construction materials and put up two new houses - one for my two sons, and the other one as an extension to the main house. I needed an extra house where my sons will be studying after school and later on sleeping in as they had been seeking a place to sleep in the neighborhood due to the minimal space in the initial house I had. With the remaining amount, I spent KES10000 on clearing the school fees areas for my three children in school and the remaining KES12000 on clothing and enough foodstuff for my family of six.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($511 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I became so happy when I realized that I had received the promised money from GiveDirectly. I thanked God and GiveDirectly for coming to my aid at the time of need.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am now a happy parent because I have been able to pay school fees for my children. Even though I did not clear the fee balance I owed the school, I am glad that my children will not be sent back home anytime soon. With this, they will be able to concentrate on their studies and will not miss their classes hence I believe that their performance will improve as compared to the previous terms where they were sent back home most of the time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 20000 from my transfer to pay school fees for my children. We settled on this so that they would not be sent back home due to huge fee arrears. Also, I spent around KES 18000 to buy some building materials to use in building a kitchen for my family and paid for the labor. We decided to build an iron roofed kitchen since the one we had was old and the roof was always leaking during the rainy season. I used the remaining amount to buy clothes and food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will enable me to clear school fees arrears of $460 for my two children in secondary school thus reduced worry level on where to get the money from. I will then use $350 to build a two-roomed house for my teenage boys who currently sleep with their friends at the neighborhood since our house is not spacious enough to accommodate the six of us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My usual day entails doing my household chores and getting enough feeds for my cattle in the morning before proceeding to the farm till evening. Coming back home to take a rest at the end of the tiresome day is the time I am most happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My main source of income comes from selling farm produce such as maize and beans. Land productivity is currently low due to prolonged drought in this region hence poor harvests. Supporting my family needs, more so paying school fees for my two sons and two daughters in secondary school has become a struggle, which is the biggest hardship I face.
