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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($430 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Despite the difficult burden of paying the school fees for my two children, I have faith that I will soon open a small business that will provide a steady source of income for my family. I am interested in venturing into maize buying and selling maize because it has a high demand in the neighborhood. This will substitute what my husband makes from burning and selling charcoal.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly's help was genuine and the enrollment process was fair to the point that nobody needed to pay anything to the staff to be selected. I believe this is the best program ever that fulfilled our expectations after spending on the plans we had.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Earlier on after receiving our first transfer, we bought a water tank. It needed a safe place to be installed thus with the second transfer we bought gutters and cement that we could use to build a strong foundation where it would sit. The total cost of purchasing the needed materials plus paying the plumber was $300. From the remaining amount, I deposited $200 into my children’s school fees account, since they had arrears. For the rest $30 I bought foodstuff to feed my family for a while.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 7 am, I was busy doing my charcoal burning job at in the forest. I heard a message ringtone on my phone an indication that I had received a new message.Being illiterate, I did bother checking my phone, I decided to complete my job before I could go home for my helper to check the message and probably inform of its contents. I was very excited after reaching home and was informed that I had received the transfer that I had patiently waited from GiveDirectly from the day I was enrolled in the program. I immediately notified every member of my family and we jointly thanked God for the opportunity.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am optimistic that I will be able to have enough clean water for my family use after purchasing a water tank and once I complete the installation of gutters around my house. I will no longer have to walk for a long distance to get this precious commodity in my life. Furthermore, I will be able to sell some water to my neighbours to earn a living.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 10,000 to support my daughter's educational needs by clearing the term on fee arrears. She is in secondary school and she had a huge fees balance since it has been long since I paid her fees. I also used KES 32,000 to purchase a 5000liters water tank for storing enough water for my household consumption. I will use it to harvest enough clean rainwater since our area is prone to drought conditions and during such time it is almost impossible to get fresh water for our use. In addition, I am planning to sell some to my neighbours to earn a living. I am planning to use the remaining amount to purchase cement and installation of the rain gutters around my house.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means education for my children. My two daughters are in school and given the financial constraints my family has been under, I have been unable to pay their school fees. I only pay the school fees after long struggles burning and selling charcoal. I am planning to use KES 60,000 to pay for my daughters school fees. This will cover their whole year and will further assure them of enough study time in school. I will use the balance to by one pair of ox-plough for subsistence farming. Neighbors can also hire my ox-plough meaning I will be able to generate some income. This is what I have always desired to do.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Despite the day to day challenges I face in life, waking up in the morning alive and healthy makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is the lack of a reliable source of income to meet my family's needs such as education for my two daughters. The charcoal burning occupation I engage myself in is not well rewarding meaning I am ever in problems year in year out. Inability to meet my family's basic needs really breaks my heart.
