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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Online business which includes online writing was my main source of income before GiveDirectly came and it used to have a lot of challenges such as fraud and late payments hence I couldn't save money to start a business because the income was meagre. My dream of being an entrepreneur seemed achievable. Currently, my life is different in that I have been able to start a popcorn business hence I am able to sustain my needs with ease.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I have no new goal but rather I am investing my time to learn on strategies of expanding my business which include adding new products and marketing my brand. Through this business, I will be able to achieve most of my unforeseen goals because the sales volume after marketing will definitely increase
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Online business which includes transcription and writing have been my main source of income before GiveDirectly came and it used to have a lot of challenges such as fraud and late payments and when this happened I could not get daily needs with ease. I spent my recent transfer to start my business of selling popcorn which has come in handy. I now feel outgoing and self-empowered since I have been able to grow financially through the profits. The income I am getting from that small business has enabled me to enroll in a short marketing course. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($368 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different as my mother's health is much better. Seeing her healthy really gives me peace. Earlier before receiving the transfers, she could hardly get money for her medication. Seeing her ill used to stress me a lot. She is healthier now thanks to the transfers. At the moment I now focus on my education and hustling around as she can stay at home all alone.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
At the moment I like analysing business plans before implementing them. With the group that we formed and received the transfers we usually sit and discuss business I deas. Before receiving the transfers we were only focusing on small business ideas since we did not have enough capital. We are really dreaming big. At the moment I am aiming at starting a cyber and photocopy business. I am quite certain of its viability. We have critically analysed market trends together with my friends. I also learned digital marketing courtesy of the transfers. The knowledge that I got is going to help me run my business well.I really dream big and the thought of a brighter future give3s me joy and happiness.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have spent KES 5000 on buying my mothers medication since she is diabetic and the other KES 5000 went towards buying my clothes and personal effects. I have also saved KES 26000 that will go towards my school fees and expenses towards learning digital marketing online. Part of the transfers have also gone towards installing wifi at KES 5400, this will really help me in my studies as I usually study online.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($196 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I am planning to expand my freelance writing work which means I will need to employ more people to help me. In so doing, I will not only have increased my earnings but also created jobs for other unemployed youth in this slum. I also intend to start a tree seedling nursery business on a piece of land provided to the youth by an NGO in our area. I have noticed that this is a good business and I know I can make some good profits out of it if well executed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Since I installed the internet services, I have been working more comfortably and I can do more work compared to what I did before. I no longer have network problems hence my earnings have really increased meaning that I can now easily pay my bills and comfortably take care of my personal needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used most of my transfer to invest on a faster and a more reliable internet service because I am a freelance writer and my job mostly requires internet access. I also bought myself some personal items, foodstuff, then saved the remaining amount which I plan to add to the next transfer and start a new business which will probably be a movie shop for more income generation .
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I have always had different business ideas which I could not implement due to lack of funds, but the moment I received the money I was so happy because I knew that all that was going to be possible.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Investing in my exsiting line of work is my priority,am an online writer, i major in project documents,creative documents, and blogging.
If i increase productive in this work,it means growth and more income for me to take care of my needs.
Secondly, i would want to start selling second hand shoes for ladies, all i need is the funds to purchase these shoes.
I have some experience in this line of work,and i have seen potential in it.
Lastly, I have an interest in environmental justice,i belong to a group by name Mathare Green Movement,where our main goals are: plant trees to feed the community, commemorating those killed through extra judicial killings and for beauty.
Thus i would want to hire a field and have a nursery of trees for the purposes of selling them and to atleast have tress planted in every ward in Mathare.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is my daily sustainance,because it is one thing i always wake up thinking of with everday,trying to meet my daily needs and make ends meet
What are your greatest ambitions?
I want to be the best programmer there is in Africa and in the world.
I would want to be a performing Artist
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up have my breakfast then check my emails,from that i start writing.
I later go to Mathare Social Justice Centre to access Wifi and look for new jobs as i train myself in programming. When i am through i go back to meet some friends from mathare empire and we have some discussions together.
In the evening, i go back home and reflect on the day i have had and go through some of the docements i had written and lessons learnt from programming.
In my free time i hug out with friends, listen to music and do free style singing.
