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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($478 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?
My goal was to boost my business that was on verge of collapsing and right now I want to focus on building a strong foundation for it.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In opinion, what GiveDirectly does well is supporting us through unconditional cash transfers so that we make decisions based on our needs. I couldn't have paid the hospital bill if the aid was in kind. I think leaving us at liberty to make decisions on how to spend the transfers was the best decision that you made.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
By the time I was receiving the transfers, I was admitted at hospital after losing my baby. I was still in pain after undergoing surgery and I was so stressed because I didn't have money to clear the hospital bill because it was an emergency case. Then, my husband who is a motorcycle rider couldn't afford to raise the money because he couldn't afford to save from the 200 KES commission that he was earning daily and he didn't manage to secure loan. I spend 20000 KES to pay the hospital bill and I'm grateful to GiveDirectly for supporting me at my lowest, when I had lost my first child. I spend the balance worth 34500 KES to add stock to my general shop business which was in the verge of collapsing and it's picking up well. I'm grateful for the support.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home relaxing when I heard messager ringtone from my phone. Upon opening it, I found that it was the mobile money transfer message and wow, I was overwhelmed with joy. I called my husband who was outside to inform him and he couldn't believe it. We still have smiles on our faces till todate.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My days nowadays are filled with happiness and joy because I'm nolonger worried that we might spend the whole day without food, my neighbors wouldn't laugh us off for not owning livestock. I feel relieved, I can breath at last.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest time, I was a housewife and I have never been comfortable with asking my husband for money everytime I needed something. I wanted to get out there, look for something to do and become self dependent. Mostly, I wanted to start a business but I sometimes I would brushed off the idea because where would I have gotten enough capital to start a business? In my culture, livestock is a sign of an active household and we didn't have any. My husband who is a casual labourer and I lived miserable life, we couldn't even afford to buy a mattress for ourselves and we didn't seem to know what the future holds for us, being enrolled in the program was our dream come true. I used Ksh 20000 of my recent transfers to start a utensils selling business, Ksh 10000 to buy five goats and I am planning to buy a bed and mattress with part of remaining transfers and save the balance towards adding more stock to my business.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means reviving my shop business. This has been my passion to bring it back but due to lack of money, I have not been successful. I plan to spend the whole of the first transfer for restocking. This will generate income that I will use to cater to my family's needs. In a day I get a profit of at least KES 200. This is sufficient for the basic needs such as food for a household of two members spending KES 150. Other than that, I will spend the remaining amount on renovating and furnishing my house so that we live comfortably.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I got married last year December and the desire to be a mother was something that has been boggling my mind. Now that I am four-month pregnant fills me with joy and happiness because soon my dream will be a reality.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am currently facing is a lack of money. I depend on agricultural casual labor which is hard to get due to the prolonged drought. Due to this, It has been difficult to save enough money to restock my shop business. All the earning I received from casual work which is about KES 1000 per month goes into buying food only. Sometimes, My wife fails to attend a clinic due to financial constraints.
