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 ($431 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would like to open a grocery shop outside my salon so that I can generate more income to save for rainy days. I would also want to buy land where I would open a restaurant.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly toll-free number helps a lot. It is free to call and whenever I have a question I call and they attend to me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I have two businesses, I have a salon, and my husband a restaurant. Early on when both businesses were new we would struggle to get customers because the food variety was not much and also because of the lack of electricity to provide more services to my customers in the salon. But after receiving my second transfer, I stocked the business and I now get $ 10 as the profit on the restaurant. I also stocked my salon business and I am now getting a profit of $15 a day. My children are now in a good school and I am a happy mother.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt some peace of mind and unexplained happiness as soon as I realized my transfer had been sent. I had spent the previous night hungry with my six-member family. It was around 7 a.m, and I was just getting ready to leave the house to borrow food from my neighbors. With the cash in Mpesa, I decided to go to a nearby center at around 9 am to withdraw KES 2,000 for buying food. I am so glad that I was able to buy food when I was really in need.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is a great improvement in our health since my family has been able to eat well. In the past, we were just eating a small quantity of food or at times missing. This is because I did not have a steady cash flow hence I could not constantly provide for my family. In addition, my children are looking smart and sleeping on a better mattress, which I could not afford before I began receiving my transfer.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Previously, I was working in a salon where I could barely make KES 150 per day. This was insufficient to cover my children's school fees as well as my family's food. So, when I received my transfer, I spent KES 5,000 to open a grocery store that earns me KES 500 per day. Because my children were initially sleeping on a very old mattress, I also purchased them a new mattress worth KES 5,000 for them. I also had a stalled building in the center that I finished as part of my transfer. The remainder will assist me in launching a new and profitable business.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a hair saloonist by profession. I have been doing my saloon job locally in my house whereby Customers who needed my services came to set their hair. I have been thinking of expanding my business to be a career to attend all types of hair styles but I have no equipments to address on this. Receiving this money means I will buy some saloon equipments like hair dryer, hair treatment chemicals, rasta and weaves to enable me attend all the needs of my customers. Majority of teachers of our nearby school goes far distance to make their hair. I lack the essential equipment to offer the services. I will address on this immediately when I receive the fast transfers. I will set a good saloon shop which will attract all the customers in my village and build my business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have never had joy for the past 6 months in my house. My elder son fell sick and spent all the money I had, I had to sell my 2 goats to cater for his medications. He had a stomach problems which persisted for 3 months and later was discovered suffering from typhoid which was caused by the unclean water we use for drinking.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Food insecurity, dressing and beddings are the biggest challenges in my house. My children have a single pair of school uniforms and I have to wash them in every evening. I skip some meals on a daily basis because of luck of food in my house.
