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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($482 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since receiving this transfer, I no longer have constant stress and worries about how I will be able to provide the basic needs for my child, especially food, shelter and education.
I am a widow and single mother of one. I wasn't lucky enough to go get college and get a good job, so I have had to depend on casual jobs. These are rare to find, and they pay so little. My biggest fear has been that I do not have enough money to educate my child.
With this transfer however, I plan on starting my business as an MPESA agent. I will save some of my earnings to ensure that I have enough money to pay for my child's school fees. I can now breathe easy.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly has done well in sending us transfers and giving us the chance to set up sources of income, such as small businesses. Our lives have improved because of this, and this is very commendable.
I do not think there's anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I've always dreamt of starting my own business, so that I can have a stable source of income. Earning a living will enable me to provide the basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and education for my child and I. I plan on using the KES 53,150 to set up a business as an MPESA agent at the nearby shopping centre.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($510 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 9 AM when I was at my daily hustle then I heard, my one ringing continuously. Without wasting time, I decided to check the notification of the message. Upon checking, I confirmed that it was the Mpesa message that I had anxiously been waiting for from GiveDirectly. To be honest, I couldn't stop thinking about how this money would transform my entire life. I felt so happy for this gift and thanked the organization for keeping its promises.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is that I now own several goats in my compound. I have been the family breadwinner for the last three years ever since my spouse passed on. He left behind one child who is yet to join the school. I have been depending on the odd jobs which most of the time, I could hardly make ends meet. Therefore since my daughter is still young, I thought of buying the goats and by the time she will be joining the school, I will have many of them whereby I will sell some and cater for her education. Apart from that, In case of any financial difficulties, I will be in a position to sort them out on time through the goats.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying seven goats at a total of KES 16000. These will be the assets that I will rely on for my child's education since she is still young, by the time he will be joining the school, I will have achieved a lot from the goats. I also bought new clothes for my daughter and I since the previous ones were not in good condition. Lastly, with the remaining amount of money, I am planning to start an Mpesa shop in my village since they are very few which assures me that the business will do so well.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means financial stability in my household. This is because I am employed as an M-Pesa agent but the income I currently get is only $50 which can not fully support my needs. I have desired to own my M-Pesa shop but this has not been possible due lack of capital. My plan once I receive the first transfer(KES 55000) is to invest in this business, and hence a stable source of income for my family. The remaining transfer will help me to renovate my house by reinforcing it with hard cores and also to have the floor smooth-finished.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The afternoon is the happiest part of my day because, at this time, I have my friends at my workplace with whom we share stories. The stories make me happy and I usually feel stress-free. Unlike during the night hours where I feel so lonely and this makes me recall how my husband passed away so soon.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine being a widow at my young age of 22 years! It is the worst thing that I have ever faced in my life. My husband passed away when I was 8 months pregnant and this changed the whole story of my bright future to darkness. I am now forced to assume the role of being the household breadwinner to take care of my daughter. The income I get from the M-Pesa business is not enough to sustain my needs and sometimes I feel stressed. I am now a happy person knowing that I will be able to own an M-Pesa shop. All this courtesy of GiveDirectly.
