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 currently different from how it was four months ago?
Previously, I only relied on small business. The little amount of money that I earned from it couldn't sustain my family and at times I could spend the capital on household items. This resulted in the business almost collapsing. I'm glad GD came to my rescue and I could use the transfers to meet most of the household needs. This allowed me to save a little from the business and I'm glad it is now stable. In addition, I was able to pay for my children's school fee on time which allowed them to improve in classwork because they had ample time for their studies unlike in the past when they could be sent home for school fees.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I'm running a food business but the stock isn't that much. I'm normally forced to restock it every time which is costly in terms of transportation and at times my customers miss most of the products leading to low profits. For the next four months, I have an additional goal to use the coming transfers to add more variety of products to the business so that I'll be able to supply my customers for a whole month without running out of stock. This will attract more customers and improve the confidence of current customers in my business. Improving the stock will also lead to improved profits thus improved living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
For the past four months, I was able to pay for my children's school fee on time. This has enabled them to get enough time for their studies in school unlike before. I feel so proud as a parent seeing my children performing well in classwork. It gives me hope of securing a better future for them. This is the biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Business is my main source of income but currently, I'm not earning a lot from it. I'm planning to use the coming transfers to boost it so that it can generate more income which will enable me to pay for my children's school fee on time. Therefore, for the next six months, I expect to have boosted the business and hopefully I'll be earning a good profit from it.
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different in that I have less stress because my children are decent in terms of dressing and going to school without being sent home for a fees arrears again. I have always strained to meet the needs of my family due to low income. Thank Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal is to boost my business to assist me in paying and supporting my family-basic needs. The business is my source of income which helps me cater to the needs of the family. Boosting the business means I boost my income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I was able to boost my fish business which has resulted in an increased profit which is now my income. Right now I am able to pay fees for my children with a lot of ease. I don't have to borrow any more to meet my family needs. My children are not sent home regularly because of school fees because I do pay in time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to use the profit from the business to give my children the best in their needs. I know my business will be doing well and I will always have an income to meet their needs.
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Apart from paying school fees for my children, I have a business. I used to struggle to raise money to even feed my family because my income was very little. I would hardly have enough to feed my family leave alone school fees. Life was very hard for me and I was almost giving up in educating my children. This is because I felt I had a lot to handle. With the business, I have a stable source of income which has helped solve most of my family financial issues. I do not struggle anymore.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the four months, I wish to boost my foodstuff business which I began with part of my transfers. With this, I will improve on the profits which will be my income and a stable one. I would not want to go back to the struggles I had before the transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that my children are not regularly sent home for school fees. Before the transfers, I used to struggle to raise money for paying school fees for my children since I only depended on casual work as my main source of income. The income from casual work was not enough to help sustain my family needs. My children would be sent home for school fees because I was not able to keep up will the family demands. With GD transfers, Life has been easy and I pay their fees every month which is the reason why they are performing well in school because they have sufficient time to study.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to continue paying school fees for my children so that they can study well in school. Their performance has been affected by being sent home for school fees every now and again. I would want them to have maximum time to studying in school.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I used to strain paying school fees for my children but for the last few months the tides have changed and my kids attend their classes and concentrate on their studies effectively.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan to increase the size of my stock so that I can be able to generate more profits into the future. The reason for doing is to enable me to be self sustained so that I can be able rely on my business as a source of income
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been in a position to pay school fees for my kids who no longer get sent away from school like it used to happen before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change because once I have increased the stock capacity of business so that the income capacity goes up.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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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 been able to boost my business with the money I have been receiving these transfers and with these I am able to meet my children's basic needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my life to have changed for the best with the shop and running. I will be in a very good position to provide for my children.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Were it not for these transfers from GiveDirectly,I would have never started the poultry keeping project. My children could have still lacked so many basic needs for lack of money to meet them. That is how my current life is different from how it would have been had I never received this transfers.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to start up a big retail shop.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I have faced in life was having to deal with my husband's violence and drunkenness during the time that we were still living together.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I manage to wake up to a brand new day feeling alive and healthy
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer in setting up a small business
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement has been having been able to have started a business before because in as much as it may have collapsed, it gave me enough experience that will guide me in setting up this new one.