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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time over 5 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 in that I have boosted my business of selling fish. Now, the profits I make have really doubled hence I feel the most self-empowered person because my life is now better than before since I can provide for my family's needs with ease most especially paying school fees for my children.Previously, this business was on the verge of collapsing hence I would have debt in the merry go round to boost it and at times I wasn't able to pay in time which created distrust between members in my group of not keeping my word.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My additional goal is to save the profits I am getting out of selling fish and part of GiveDirectly's transfers which I have saved 30,000 KES and buy a motorcycle for a motorcycle taxi business known as bodaboda business to make an extra -income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received most recently on paying for my child who is in high school and now I have a peace of mind seeing her go to school. I boosted my business of selling fish and the larger part of the transfer I have saved on my Mpesa account 30,000 KES.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($367 USD)
access_time almost 6 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 now different in that, I was able to change my business from a less profitable one to a more profitable one where I make some income daily. I now have a new business. I lacked capital before to open up this new business that has assured me of some amount of money everyday, unlike my old business that kept regressing slowly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My additional goal is to study a course in catering as I enjoy cooking, so I can open up my own restaurant in a large and busy town like the Central Business District of Nairobi County.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfers to expand my business and to pay school fees for my child. I fry and sell french fries in my neighborhood in Mlango Kubwa village. I started this business late last year in 2018, after I received my first transfers. I used to hawk clothes here in Mathare before I received my first transfers. My clothes business started regressing and I would go even for three days without selling any clothes. This greatly slowed down my income. I thought of the idea to begin selling french fries as I saw that there are many primary school going children in my neighborhood, who enjoy this delicacy. This business has picked up well and I am assured everyday of some income.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($196 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Now that I am assured of help from GD, I want to first do a course on hairdressing and secondly, to ensure my business is doing well by adding more stock of different varieties so as to maximise on the profit and meeting customer demands.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have always wanted to go to school but since I do not have anyone to help pay my school fees, I was forced to start a business to help sustain my needs. Now that I will get support from Give Directly, I will want to go back to school and take hairdressing course.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on boosting my business so that it can do well and help me sustain my family needs and the rest of the transfer to pay a debt which I had borrowed from our group to help in buying a food for my children.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
Since I always do business and it was my only source of income, I had given up on going back to school until GIve Directly came to my life. I want to go back to school and undertake a course on hairdressing.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have decided to start with opening a business of selling cereals. With business, am assured of income flow which will take care of everything else i am meant to deal with such as rent, school fees and food.
Secondly, i will pay school fees for my son since that is the only thing i can give him to guarantee him a better future, education.
Lastly, i will give back to society by helping out a friend with cartering for her food since she has been there for me during difficult times.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is fire because when there is a fire breakout, it takes away everything I have including my children. Going by where I live, fire breakouts is the order of the day which is my greatest fear.
What are your greatest ambitions?
I would love to be a carterer since i love cooking and working in a hotel has been my desire.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up, do my house chores and go to look for jobs to do for the day. I go back home and since i have a small child who is one year old,i need to be home early. I await for my other child to come back from school then we prepare supper, watch tv for a short period and head to bed.
I spend most of my free time with my best friend hanging out and catching up on latest stuff.
