GiveDirectly: Send money directly to the extreme poor

3rd Payment

Transfer Amount

50000 KES ($493 USD)

almost 5 years ago

How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?

With my second transfer, I was able to buy tools and equipment that are required for my plumbing job. I did not have these tools before and I had to borrow them whenever I had a job which was frustrating and inconveniencing. I can now take up any job at any time because I do not have to fit into anyone's schedule so that I can use their tools when they are done with their own jobs. I also had just the plumbing job to depend on financially, but that changed because I managed to start a business on soft drinks using part of my transfer which now provides me with extra income and keeps me afloat whenever I have no plumbing jobs.

Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?

I have plans of setting up a new business on money transaction services, locally known as M-pesa. At the moment, I have a shop where I sell soft drinks which has enough space that can accommodate the business I have in mind. This idea will be an ideal one because running two businesses in one shop makes it easier to pay the rent without taking too much from the profits.

What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?

I had planned to construct a new house back in my rural home, so I used part of the money I recently received to purchase the rest of the materials needed. The money was also helpful in paying the construction workers who built the house. I used part of the money I had left to buy school requirements for my niece who just joined highschool then saved the rest for future business plans.

2nd Payment

Transfer Amount

37152 KES ($364 USD)

5 years ago

How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?

Before I started receiving these transfers, I had a kiosk business where I sold soft drinks and some snacks. The business eventually collapsed as we took out more than we put in forcing us to spend even the capital. Life was a struggle because I had to provide for my family through other means such as plumbing which is not usually very available. It was even harder as I got no financial support from my wife who had no job and I had to struggle on my own. With the transfers, I have managed to revive the business which is currently doing so well and is being run by my wife who is very happy that she now has a place to go to every morning. We are currently at a very good place financially as we are able to raise enough money for our needs through my plumbing jobs and the business where we now sell to individuals and even supply to other shops nearby.

Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?

I managed to acquire a shop through my group which I wish to use for a money Agent business. It is quite expensive to set up such a business but I would like to give it a try since the returns are high as well. I have so far managed to revive my previously collapsed kiosk business which is currently being run by my wife who was previously a housewife while I continue with my plumbing job among other hustles. I feel great about having achieved the previous goals I had set which is why I feel free to try out a new one.

What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?

I have a soda and snacks business that I revived using the first transfer I received. This business had previously collapsed due to mismanagement and consumption of all the profits and even the capital. The business is so far doing great as I recently boosted it even more by adding more stock with part of the money I received. I used the money I had left after restocking to buy roofing sheets which I plan to use in the construction of a new house back in my rural home where I do not have a house at the moment. Some of the money was used to transport the sheets home.

Initial Payment

Transfer Amount

20000 KES ($192 USD)

5 years ago

Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?

The main goals that I currently have after starting receiving the transfers are as follows. First, I want to have a big depot whereby I will be storing drinks in large quantities. My wish is to supply a variety of drinks in different shops in my village. I hope will really transform me in many ways. Secondly, I would like to start a business for my spouse for selling second-hand clothes. Currently, she is a housewife, this is really making me struggle so hard since they are all depending on me. I believe by the time I will start our lifestyle will change greatly.

Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.

Having expanding my kiosk has made my life to be so different. Before GiveDirectly came to my life, the business had collapsed because the little profit I was getting I was using it in meeting my family's basic needs. Secondly, having my own welding machine has also brought a big impact on my life. Initially, I used to hire it from friends which were very expensive. The money that I could be paid after finishing the task, I had to share with the owner of the machine. But for now, I am a happy man because when a client calls me for any task the money that I am being paid is all mine. It is a relief to my family and I because we longer suffer like before.

What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?

I spent part of my recent transfer on expanding my kiosk business of selling some drinks and snacks. Initially, the shop was not operating because I had consumed all the profits and the capital that I had. I then bought a welding machine which initially I used to hire from my neighbors and it was costly to me. I then paid school fees for my daughter who is in primary school. The remaining amount of money, I bought some foodstuffs for my family.

Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?

It was around 5 am when I heard my phone was vibrating so loudly. I was shocked since I was not expecting my phone to vibrate at such an hour. But I was a bit curious, so I decided to check what the message was all about, I realized it was an mpesa message from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed knowing that I will finish my projects that I had started earlier.

Enrolled

over 5 years ago

What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?

My first priority is to invest in a new business. I am a plumber, I get work referrals from other tradepersons. I want to buy my own tools, drills and a plumbing machine which will enable me to put up my own business. With this I will not have to share the payment I get with other tradepersons when I work. Secondly, my brother and I run a soda business, we sell coca cola sodas at retail. I want to add more stock, diversify to selling pepsi sodas and supply both in wholesale and retail. This will increase our profits and I can then buy a machine for cooking fresh fries and sell them together. I am confident of this two businesses since they go hand in hand and its location is very favourable. I do not have to rent a room, it is free of charge, it is near our hall and where we run our washroom and toilet business as a group. Lastly, I have a daughter who is in Pre primary and I would like to transfer her to a better school like Moi Air Base primary school for her to get quality education, the other advantage is that it is just near my place of residence, access for her will be easy. Admission to this school is the main challenge, the fee is high but once she is admitted the tution money per term is affordable. I want her to study to the highest level she can attain.

Describe your biggest worry.

My top concern is crime, especially among youths in Mathare, Muoroto area. I was born and raised here and I have seen a lot of youths enganging in crime and putting their lives at great risk. Many have lost their lives to crime and police violence. I feel that they lack family support and the lack of jobs has not helped better the situation. The ones who lack resources are tempted to steal from those who have and it has been a cycle. I will love to raise my child in a neighbourhood that is free of crime and violence.

What are your greatest ambitions?

My ambition in life is to venture into the real estate business. I want to build homes and sell them. This is one industry I have always wanted to venture in. The profit I make, I will use it to build houses mostly for the not so priviledged people, in this case women. I do not like that they have to hustle a lot even in their old age and still go back home and cater to other issues like house rent. I will build houses for them for free and let them live there. I find it sad that rich people have a lot of money but are so stingy in helping the poor, this is one thing I would want to do differently when I get money.

Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?

On my usual day, when I have a work appointment, as plumber, I leave my house at around seven in the morning and work until late in the evening around 11 pm, it mostly depends with the the number of houses I have to visit and how fast I work. When I am not working, I wake up in the morning, I take my breakfast and at around 11 am. I leave the house and go to my place of business,which is also where we hang out as a group as we catch up. I sell sodas and mostly work for a half a day and when my brother is around, I leave him to operate the business. I take a walk mostly to the chief camp, to catch up with some of my friends who work in the administration department, and other friends around Mathare. Later in the evening, I go back home take my dinner and retire to bed. In my free time, I catch up with my group friends, we play ludo as we talk about life. At times I like to hung out with friends at the chiefs' camp, in the adminstration department, we share words of wisdom as we discuss matters that affect youths in our area, I find this relaxing and beneficial to me.