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 ($518 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was stranded and troubled on how I would raise school fees for my children in college and high school so that they would be allowed to continue with their studies. However, my life is currently different because I cleared for them and they were allowed back to school. I did not have any livestock in my homestead but currently I have goats that I am keeping. I am expecting them to reproduce and increase in number. Having them are a saving for the future for the sake of my children's education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in giving us this money and giving us the freedom to plan for ourselves. Through this, we have been able to change our lives. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent KES 20000 on paying for my children's fees, one in college and the other in high school. I paid for them on time and they were allowed back to school and continue with their studies without any interruptions. I also spent the money on hiring labourers to plough my farm at KES 7500. I did some household shopping for my family on buying foodstuffs and other basic needs as paying for other household expenses.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($527 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference is that I am now happy because the cash has enabled me to own some goats. My decision to go for goats is that I am assured of achieving a lot from them within a short period of time. First, they take a shorter time to mature and they reproduce mostly twice a year. These are the co reasons why I choose rearing them. I am hopeful they will make me wealthier within a short period of time. This will give me the ability to buy a dairy cow since I have been planning to own this.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
We had just finished taking our evening meal, around 10 PM when I heard the notification from my mobile phone. After confirming it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly, I was excited that I could not sleep at all. It was my first time receiving such a huge amount of money.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on purchasing two beds and two mattresses, previously we used to sleep on mats which were really uncomfortable. I went ahead and bought three goats at KES 9000 and chicken for KES 1500 as my well thoughtful assets. I also bought some building materials which included building poles to renovate my house which was in poor condition. I then bought a solar panel at KES 1900, previously I was using some candles or sometimes stay in darkness. With the remaining amount of money, I paid school fees for my child who is in secondary school.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Education has been my key desire that i can invest to my children. This aspiration has been faced with many challenges that has forced my elder son to venture into brick making despite having attained a mean grade of a B- (minus) in his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education. Since I have no reliable source of income to support my second son in school, I am forced to supply firewood at the school so that, his fee is deducted from my pay. With my first priority being education, receiving this money means achieving my life goal by paying school fee for my son. Since my husband is still energetic, he will use part of the transfers to invest in livestock business in order to have a reliable source of income that will support my son's education and other family needs. Hence, this is what receiving this money means to me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the better part of my day in the bush cutting firewood for sell. This is because, It is from this job that I get school fee for my son and also support other family needs. The job is very laborious and it usually makes me feel weak and tired during the day. It is only in the evening that, I get time to relax and share meals with my family members. Hence, this is the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is lack of reliable source of income that can support my son's education. This situation has forced me to rely on firewood supply, which I do it by head. I am required to supply sixty bundles of firewood per term that translate to twelve thousands shillings. This job is very tiresome and exhaustive, but if it means achieving my goal, I am always doing it in order to meet my family needs .
