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 ($435 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming years, my dream would be to start a boutique business where I will be selling clothes. I believe that this is more profitable compared to the one that I currently manage. To realise this dream, I plan on joining a Sacco where I will be saving at least $20 per month. Once it is mature, I can comfortably set up the business. All in all, I am grateful for the achievement that I have accomplished in a short period.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does a wonderful job of empowering our community. I was able to boost my business in a short period, which would not have been the case before. This is because it could have taken years to realise them. So far, I haven't identified areas that need to be corrected.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I was promised the unconditional transfer, I thought of boosting my business, which was not doing well because of the inflation rate, yet it was the major source of our livelihood. I am married and blessed with four children. My husband depends on casual jobs in earning a living and I am a businesswoman who specialises in selling groceries. Upon receiving my second transfer, I, therefore, used $250 to boost my business. I knew that this would attract a higher income, though it was not possible before due to other responsibilities and financial constraints. Thereafter, I saved up $230 for future use and finally, used the remaining amount on foodstuffs. The support from GiveDirectly boosted my daily income greatly, thus I am forever grateful.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I received money from GiveDirectly. I was just about to close my days business at a nearby centre. I had waited for the money for far too long since I already knew my key priority spending areas. I went home feeling very happy that day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The fact that we have moved from buying milk for consumption each day to now milking one of our own is something that has brought a lot of difference in our lives. The cow that I bought gives 3 litres per day and this is more than enough for us . I feel so much happy and relieved and I feel better equiped to gather for the needs of my four children especially now when my husband has been taken ill.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 40000 to buy a dairy cow and used the remaining amount to buy food and clothes for my children. We did not have a dairy cow yet this is one of the main economic activities that people engage in here at our place. We had aso been unable to buy one since the kind of business that I engage in could give me just enough to make ends meet for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have a young family of 6 and we have been struggling to make ends meet through casual labor. My husband works as a guard in a tea factory which is in a different town, far from here and I occasionally work as a casual laborer within the village. His earning is KES 10,000 a month which is not enough to sustain a family of 6 and meet the school expenses of 4 children. Owing to this, I intend to run a boutique business in a nearby town. The choice of starting a boutique business has been triggered by the fact that there is no other boutique in the town. I will monopolize the business and I am projecting to run in other towns if the business will be viable. My intention is to spend KES 50,000 of the first transfer to start me off and I am elated that soon I will materialize the dream.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband has been having seasonal mental issues for over ten years now. The condition has been giving us sleepless nights because when it starts, he begins to move around in the village aimlessly. In the last 6 months, we have had peace in our lives because the condition has not recurred and this has brought joy to our lives.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity is the biggest challenge we are currently facing. We have 0.3 acres of land where we grow maize for domestic use. In the last harvesting season (2 months ago), we harvested only 3 bags of it and soon we will run out of stock. Maize necrosis disease and poor climatic conditions have reduced our productivity. This has brought worries in lives due to the uncertainty of where to buy maize from because it has become scarce. Additionally, we do not have enough cash to buy maize in case we run out of stock.
