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 ($446 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes, my new goal is to buy a motorcycle which I will use to earn a living. After my motorcycle broke down and failed completely, it rendered me jobless. Once I receive the transfer, I will top up the money, buy a new motorcycle and later on pay the debts I owe.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I love the fact that the unconditional tranafers we got from the organisations uplifted our lives. I was very stressed and had no way out to solving the complex problems I had. Thanks to the funds I am able to feed my family and clear debts I owed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Prior to receiving the unconditional transfers from the organisation, I was going through a tough time. I earn a living as a motorcycle taxi " Boda Boda". I owed the company where I bought the motorcycle a huge some of money. Few months after buying the motorcycle, the engine failed due to mechanical problems. My efforts to repair the engine bore no fruits as the mechanics told me I must buy a new one which is very expensive amounting to KES 55000. This was the beginning of my problems as I could not raise the KES 11000 monthly amount to pay for the motorcycle because I no longer had a job. Therefore when I received my transfer, I spent a huge portion KES 45000 plus some additional transfers and bought a new motorcycle. I am happy that I have a job and working hard to cater to the family's needs (food, school fees and medical attention) as well as raise money to clear the debt I owe the motorcycle company.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I am a motorcycle rider so I was ferrying my client to a certain destination when I heard a message notification from my phone. Since I was nearby the destination, I thought to myself why not just wait to get to the destination and check what the message was all about. In arrival, I confirmed that it was the transfers message and I was so happy to have received the transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have a two bedroom house not and this means that I can enjoy privacy compered to previously when I was sharing a single room which my children. My business has also picked up well again and I am in a better place financially.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had a single room and that's where I had been staying with my wife and three children. The space was very small and there was no privacy and all I needed was to add some more rooms so that we can have enough space as a family. I had managed to put up a structure of two rooms but I was not able to roof it because of financial constraints so receiving the transfers was a good opportunity for me to put up the roof. I spend KES 30000 to do roofing. My motorbike needed a repair and I didn't have money because I had used the one which I had saved to pay school fees for my children. I spend KES 5000 to do the repair. I also spent KES 20000 to add more stock to my charcoal selling business which was not doing well. I'm happy that I now have enough space for my family and im grateful to GiveDirectly for the support.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have a wife and two children who are about to start schooling. Currently I am a motorcycle taxi rider in the village, a job that earns me about KES 700 daily. Could have been good income for a villager, but I still have a loan to repay because I bought my motorcycle on credit. Getting this money would make it possible for me to also undertake other projects alongside like building a bigger house. I would love to have a separate room for my children so that I do not have to share a single room. I strongly feel this will mean privacy for me and freedom for my children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I employed a rider for my first motorcycle taxi but I did not get any good returns from it. Infact, the rider damaged my bike beyond repair before returning it one day. This took me out of business completely and I did not know what to do next. But I really felt very happy when Snip, the company that offered to give us motorcycles on credit, came through. It was a big thing for me because it rejuvenated my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am struggling to improve my income which is extremely low for my needs. As a motorcycle taxi rider, I make about KES 700 but still have to split it with the company that sold a motorcycle to me. I bought my it on credit and so still repaying the loan. This takes more than seventy percent of my daily earning leaving me with very to spend on family needs. If I could get an alternative source of income I would be able to take good care of my family by providing effectively.
