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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($490 USD)
access_time over 4 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 different from how it was in that, I have managed to buy a lot of things that I used to admire. I managed to buy items such as television and a music system. Today, my children enjoy entertaining programs at the comfort of our house rather than watching at the neighbor's house. It feels nice to know that they are no longer a bother at other people's houses.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to make sure that my shoe business is up and running. I plan to save religiously to ensure I get enough money to start the business again. I have also identified new places to get the shoes at a wholesale price. Since I started another business after the fire incidence, my target audience has grown. I am hoping that that business will pick up and do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been selling vegetables and tomatoes to earn a living after a fire incidence brought my business down. Although it has been doing well, my heart melts for the other opportunity to revive my business. This is why when I got my third transfer, I kept a large portion of it as savings. I want to start selling shoes in a week's time. I love the business so much because it generates more income within a few hours hence close early for home. This gives me more time to bond more with my family especially my little child. Nowadays, I have to stay late up to nine o'clock but this struggle will be over once I establish my shoe business. Besides saving a larger portion of the transfer, I used the rest of the remaining amount to do shopping.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
37152 KES ($360 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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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 in that, I can manage to buy whatever I need like. For instance, recently, I bought a music system for entertainment. This was not possible in a short period of time previously because of financial constraints. I am also financially disciplined. Right now I have set aside part of the transfer which I am planning to use in reviving my previous business.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to revive my business in a place called Gikomba. I had been getting more profits working for fewer hours hence having time with my family. If I compare it with the one I started recently, I have to spend long hours in the business so as to get a meaningful income which deprived me of time to spend with my family. I am not planning to close this one down but I will leave it to my child who I feel can manage it well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer on starting up a business. I sell vegetables and fruits. I have been jobless for two months after the business that I was operating in a place called Gikomba was destroyed by fire. Although it has not picked well and the profits are less as compared to the previous one, at least I have something to put food on the table. Besides starting a business, I also bought a music system for entertainment. I decided to save the remaining chunk of money which I plan to use in reviving the first business that I was operating in Gikomba because it less hectic and I spend less time operating it hence have time with my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($194 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to start selling shoes. I was doing this business some few months ago but fire incidence left me with a loss. The business is lucrative and I know that when I revive it, I will be able to help my husband meet some of our goals as a family.
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 am stress-free. I paid school fees for my son for the entire three terms. Before then, he used to be sent home for even a week due to fee arrears. He ended up missing a lot of lessons that lead to his poor performance in school. As a mother, seeing my child missing classes made me feel like a failure. There was nothing much that I could do because the little that my husband could get was the one that we used for every need and even paying school fees. I can only thank GiveDirectly for financial support.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer to pay school fees for our son. I wanted him to settle well in school because previously, he could be sent home for even two week due to fee arrears. I decided to pay school fees for the entire three terms which have given me peace of mind because I am no longer worried about paying any amount of money in the coming terms. I have been depending on my husband to provide everything and I now that I had received my transfer, I wanted to reduce the burden. Apart from that, I bought a bed because I used to have a small one. I finally kept the remaining amount of money as savings that I will use for our son's shopping when school opens.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer, I felt very happy. I knew that I will be able to achieve most of my goals. That day was one of the awkward ones because I had received a lot of calls from friends which awoke me. All of them were just informing me of the transfer that they had gotten. I could not hide my joy but kept calm until midday when I started using my transfer.
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority is to reopen my business of selling second hand shoes at Gikomba market. I was selling shoes but my business burned down due to the fire that broke out at Gikomba market this year. The fire broke out at 3:00am in the morning while I was at home. I did not salvage anything from my business, all I had burned down to ashes. I will therefore expect to get more profit in return because of the influx of people around Nairobi in the market. Secondly, I will invest in a new business of selling charcoal in Kiamutisya, Mathare. There are so many food kiosks around, I will be able to take advantage of kiosks and be able to supply them with charcoal. The demand of charcoal in my area is high and this will provide a ready market for my business and I will therefore make alot of profit in return. Thirdly, I will save the remaining transfer and be able to boost my businesses whenever they go down.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is my family health because it drains most of my resources. I have been unable to provide good medication to my children due to the little money I get from my work of selling second hand shoes at Gikomba market which is not enough. I always fear when sickness strikes at night it will be difficult to access good medical facilities which are not close by. Due to financial constraints, I have to spend the little I get for providing food and there is nothing left for medical expenses.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to become a successful business woman in future. I would want to open a big shop of selling shoes in bales. I will be able to supply shoes in various markets around the country and I will therefore, expect to get alot of profit in return. I will be able to get my family out of slums, because of the fire outbreak which are very common and sometimes occur in the middle of the night unaware. This is due to negligence of our neighbors or forced eviction by landgrabbers who result in burning of houses using hired men. I will be able to provide my family with good housing and be able to provide for their upkeep. I will live in a calm place where there is no fear of having fire outbreaks.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On my usual day I wake up very early in the morning at 5:30am. I take a shower, prepare breakfast for my children and then I leave for work at Gikomba market . I normally sell second hand shoes at Gikomba market which is a very common market that many people around the country come to buy second hand clothes and shoes. I normally work until 2:00pm then I break to buy another bale of second hand shoes in preparation of selling the next day. I then head back home at 4:00pm, do household chores, prepare supper for my family and then I retire to bed. In my free time, I like to relax with my family at home, browsing my phone and visiting friends at times
