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 ($468 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, I have managed to build a house. I did not have a good house then. The one I had before was old and very small. Fitting in it with my family was very difficult. It was a mud thatched house. I am happy to say that my dream has come true. I have managed to spend the transfer I received to buy 32 pieces of Iron sheets to build an iron-roofed house and pay the house constructors. The foundation was already laid, and the house is ready to be occupied. Only the floor is remaining to be cemented and walls to be plastered. The house contractors are in the process of finishing walls and floors. Secondly, I have managed to accomplish my goal of boosting my business of selling, flour, sugar, vegetables candy and other basic needs by adding more stock and building stalls.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Where I was and where I am today is different. This is through the help I got from GiveDirectly. There is a lot of good improvements in my life. I built my house and booted my business. My only request is for GiveDirectly to kindly assist us in building water boreholes because we are experiencing much drought in my community. Otherwise, GiveDirectly does everything well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have managed to build a house. I did not have a good house then. The one I had before was old and very small. Fitting in it with my family was very difficult. It was a mud thatched house. I am happy to say that my dream has come true. I have managed to spend the transfer I received to buy 32 pieces of Iron sheets to build an iron-roofed house and pay the house constructors. The foundation was already laid, and the house is ready to be occupied
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($492 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was so happy when I got the money because in this place where we live it is just not possible to get that amount easily and efficiently. It is an amount that I had never gotten before, and even my small kiosk business has never been able to raise any amount close to that, so I was very happy the moment I received that money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the ability GiveDirectly gave me to replenish my stock, something that all along I could not do. Also, when rain comes and the drought and famine subside, I will get some goats. That is a very big difference and progress in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer in replenishing the stock of my small kiosk business because I have been running it for a long time and it was not making much income to the point that it could not even sustain itself. I was almost closing it down because most of the commodities people usually ask for were not there, therefore, I took KES30000 and bought a substantial stock to keep my business up and running as well as not to disappoint my regular customers with the items that are not in stock. I am, however, still monitoring the current state of drought and famine, and when it gets better and rains then I will get a few goats that will be part of the investments that I want to have because they will multiply and increase in numbers. I am keeping aside the remaining part of my transfer for that.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a reliable source of income for my household. Currently, I majorly depend on my husband who is doing house construction. His job is seasoning and his earning is minimal in that can not fully support all household needs. I am planning to spend my entire first transfer to start a kiosk that will act as a source of income for my family and I am assured of getting a profit of KES 500 per day. I will further use KES 30000 of my second transfer to buy 10 goats that will act as a long-term investment project for my household. The remaining amount will help to renovate my house which is leaking during rainy seasons.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. Waking up healthy with my family despite all life challenges gives me hope for a better future.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a reliable source of income is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. My husband is doing house construction, a job that is not promising daily yet its earning is very minimal. It is very hard to cater to all our needs and sometimes we skip meals or borrow from other relatives something that makes me uncomfortable.
