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
53150 KES ($473 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The new goal that I didn't had before receiving the transfer is staring a Mpesa agent business. This was not among the goals since I didn't had the capital. When I received the money I felt so happy and found this as a good investment.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does well buy giving money to the poor in the community to build better house and to buy dairy cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent all the second transfer on adding float to my Mpesa agent business. I started this after receiving the first transfer. This business earns me an profits to meet other household items. Were it not GiveDirectly all this could not have happened. I have devoted much of my time doing this and wish to grow it to be much better.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($500 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was around 9am when I heard a ringtone message from my phone. I didn't expected any messages from anyone so I reluctantly check it. I couldn't believe my eyes when I checked it, it was message confirming that I have received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. I immediately inform my spouse and he felt so happy too. We knew we would be able to start a business. We went with my spouse to withdrew the money from the Mpesa agent shop. We had planned to run an Mpesa agent business. My spouse started calling his friends to get an agent Simcard. This was the most beautiful thing that had ever happened to us. We are so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled us to invest on this amazing business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have started a business. My spouse was employed by his friend to run an Mpesa shop business for him. This is where he used to earn some money to meet our daily household items. We had always wished to start our own business but we didn't had the capital. I do small scale farming and this is only for consumption. We didn't had any other source of income to enable us to start any project. When we received the first transfer we felt so happy because we knew this was the opportunity to invest. My spouse is experience in Mpesa agent business. So this was an advantage to us. We immediately align and get a Safaricom Mpesa agent simcard. We have a small shop where we run the Mpesa agent business. Currently we have some customers who withdraw and deposit. We have plans of savings the profits to start a retail shop. This will enable us to sell other goods as well. We are so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard and given us chance to invest in our village.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 50,000 of the transfer I received from GiveDirectly on starting a new business of an Mpesa agent shop. I had always wished to start this business because there are few in our village and I knew I would get customers. This will earn us a commission every month. My spouse is the one running this business. I bought tables, food and clothes for my children. I am so happy because GiveDirectly has changed our living standard. It has enabled us to own assets which could have taken quite some time.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have always wanted to own my own small business that will continually give me income to meet my family's needs. I plan to invest the whole amount in starting up an Mpesa enterprise.The returns or profit from this business will help me meet my basic needs.Receiving this money means financial freedom for me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I'm done with my days work. I get to rest and enjoy reading a book or the bible. My day is usually packed with farm activities leaving me tired in the afternoon.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is lack of finances. Currently my husband is a casual labourer, earning at most 50 dollars a month. He's the sole provider as I have some health issues I cannot work to earn. This money goes to meeting our family needs hence we're left with nothing to save up.
