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?
With the hike in fuel prices, my work as a tuk-tuk operator has been very unproductive lately. Before I would earn between KES 300 and KES 700 daily. But now, it has gone down to between KES 0 to KES 700. This has made it quite challenging to fend for my eight children, six of whom are in school. Ever since I started receiving these funds, I made a point to save KES 1000 in the merry-go-round from here I can gather school fees for my children and also save for future needs. My eldest sibling recently fell ill. So, often, I would chip into my pocket to support his medical bills. Unfortunately, he succumbed. When I got my transfer, I did not have enough money to buy food for my children. Therefore, I opted to use the remaining KES 2000 to cover our meal budget.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in giving financial support to the least fortunate people in the society. The GiveDirectly's staffs are friendly, kind and patient with the community members where they work. Through this they find it easy to work among the diverse community hence reaching to more needy people. So far I feel there is nothing that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For several months, I had been struggling financially. This hindered me from supporting my family as well paying school fees for my children. When I received my second transfer, I spentt the whole of it on paying school fees for my son who is currently in form 1. Although the amount was less than the require fee by KES 2,000 it greatly helped in reducing my arrears hence giving me easy time to work on the balance.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
1200 KES ($11 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was out looking for work so that I could be able to send back my children to school as they had been sent home. After a few nonresponding offers I got a text message on my phone. When I took it out and read it I quickly went back home to pick my children and send them back to school. I felt like a rock had been lifted from my shoulders and I am thankful to Give directly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There have been changes in my daily life. This is clearly shown through my children going back to school and having a steady education without worrying about being sent home due to lack of no wy for the next five years. It will no longer be a struggle to let them get the education they deserve.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
This transfer I was able to quickly send back my children to school. They had been sent home due to a lack of school fees. This was a blessing in disguise. I was able to pay KES.600 which would allow them to go and sit for their exams. I was also able to pay off a debt of KES.300 which I had taken earlier to feed my family. I was also able to pay for some medical treatment for my friend who had not been feeling well.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been working as a motorist for sometime, a job that enabled me to put food on the table. Some years later, I improved to be a tuk-tuk driver. However, last year I was relieved off the duty due to the Corona pandemic. I am now at home doing farming, which is also not sustainable because of the poor rainfall. They say, 'do more than just exist.' I have had wishes to buy a tuk-tuk of my own, at least I become my own boss. I plan to secure a loan of 200,000 KES that GiveDirectly transfers will help me service it monthly.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am happy that despite the tough times during the Corona pandemic, my whole family is still alive. I have never lost anyone to the disease.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Job security has been my major challenge. Recently, I was working as a motorist, but I was relieved off the duty during the Corona Pandemic. Ever since then, I have never acquired a sustainable job to keep me moving. Being a family man and the breadwinner, it hurts me most seeing my children go without food, and a times they are sent out of school due to fee arrears.
