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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference in my daily since I started receiving these transfers is that I have my own business. Before the transfers, I used to rely on income from casual work and odd jobs in my area. The income was not much and we would struggle as a family to make ends meet. Sometimes we would miss some meals just to meet other needs such as medication. School fees was a financial burden I never managed to meet in time. When I started receiving these transfers, I have been using them to buy business equipment bit by bit. Right now, I have an established barbershop business which has been very helpful in my life. I no longer struggle as I used to because I have daily income from the business. I thank GD for the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My wife gave birth two months ago and we have not had enough clothes to clothe the baby. This is why we have agreed that we use the next three transfers in buying clothes for newborn baby. I will feel good when my baby is well-dressed and presentable because that shows I am providing for my family well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying my rent. At the time I received the transfers, I did not have any money to use in paying rent. I had used all I had to buy school requirements for my children which they were needed with when reporting back to school for the new year. The rest of the transfers I used on buying food for the family. We did not have enough food in the house to sustain us through the month hence I decided to use the transfers to buy food so that we don't run out of food in the course of the month.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I lived with three of my friends before I started receiving these transfers because I could not afford to pay my own rent as I was not earning much from my barbershop business which was very small then. When I started receiving the transfers, I decided to move out and rent my own house which I knew I would be able to pay for through the transfers as I wait for the business to improve. I was tired of living in a crowded place where no one was very keen on cleaning as we would all leave early and come back at odd hours. I also revamped the business by buying more equipment and other stylish furniture that would attract more customers. The business has not been doing as well as I expected but it has definitely improved from its previous pathetic state. I am really enjoying my privacy as well as growing my business all courtesy of Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My biggest desire was to stabilize my barbershop business by having at least two shaving machines and classy chairs that would upgrade the status of the shop to attract more customers and increase my efficiency. I have so far achieved this and now just hoping that it improves to a level that it is able to take care of my bills before the project ends. I do not have any new goals at the moment other than getting my family nice Christmas gifts, especially my younger brother who did so well in his final examinations.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the money I recently received to pay my rent for the month as I still don't earn enough from my barbershop business to take care of such. I spent what I had left on foodstuff and other household requirements.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life is different from how it was before Give Directly came into my life in that, I have been able to take care of my needs easily. Recently, I was able to pay rent on time which was unusual. I can also manage to save some amount and set new goals. Before then, I used to do casual jobs in fact multiple of them and still ask for help from relatives in order to pay rent and meet some of my family needs. Since I started my barbershop business, I am able to take care of my needs easily and even save some amount. I am planning to use my savings to start my next project which is poultry keeping.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start poultry farming. I have a passion for rearing chicken. It is also a good business that I believe will do well in this area. I only need to have enough capital and learn the logistics of how to manage this business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer to pay rent and electricity bills. I have always wanted to pay rent on time to avoid drama with my landlord. There was a time I couldn't pay my rent on time and he caused a scene before locking my house. I was forced to stay in a friend's place which was not comfortable and had no privacy at all. I had to find a way of paying it even if it meant doing multiple casual jobs. I finally saved the remaining amount. I am planning to use the savings to start a poultry farm project so as to earn a living from the sales in due time.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goal now that I have started receiving the money is to start a business. I am planning to save my daily income and later use it to open a kinyozi shop after they have accumulated. I settled on this because I have some experience in doing it as I was once employed as a barber. I strongly believe that my life will totally change and I will also be able to change that of others through employing them just as GiveDirectly hs changed mine through their help.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly is that I have been able to start poultry keeping project unlike before when it was just a wish. This has become my alternative source of income since I sometimes sell some eggs and use the money to cater for my needs. I believe that this project will grow over some time and it will always help me improve my life even when GiveDirectly program will be over.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer to buy some chicken. I settled on this because it has always been my prayer to start a poultry keeping project. I decided on poultry keeping since one can run it alongside other jobs as it does not require constant attention. This will act as my alternative source of income. I received this money when I did not have any money to use in settling my bills. Due to this, I spent the remaining amount to pay my house rent since I did not want my landlord to lock my house.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
My heart was filled with happiness the moment I started receiving your money. This was because I knew that I would be able to achieve a lot in my life using this money. This money also made me know that I was soon going to commence my project of poultry keeping.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will use this money first to boost my current business of barber shop by buying more modern shaving machines and this will bring about efficient customer service.Secondly this money will help me to pay my rent on time and also clear some of my rent arrears. I will also use this money to improve the condition of my house in the rural.
Describe your biggest worry.
My most troubling worry is always about house rent. Paying up my rent on time has always been a problem since at times my barber shop doesn't fetch me up good income making me to have problem with my landlord who most of the times do lock up my house due to rent defaults.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to ensure that my business grows and succeds so that I may be able also to employ other youths from Mathare at least on casual basis.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I use doesn't have a free time since I spend most of my time doing and attending to customers in my barber shop. I do work from Monday to Sunday beginning from morning to at night around 9:30 and in fact my business booms in weekends and Holidays since many people come and that is why I can't have a free time.