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 ($488 USD)
access_time almost 5 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 currently different from how it was in that, I have regular income after starting a juice business using the previous transfer. My future is also bright after building rental houses using the third transfer. All these combined with the upcoming business will definitely scale up my living standards to another level.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to maximize a small piece of land that is lying fallow after utilizing a larger area to put rental houses. I will establish a business premise where I plan to sell baby's clothes and lady's jewelry which I am sure will do well. I am in the process of finishing my rental houses then embark on this other project. I thank Give Directly for boosting me financially. I couldn't have achieved all these without their help.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used a large portion of my second transfer on building a rental house but I did not finish this project. When I received the third one, I equally used a large portion of it to built another one. I had been given a piece of land which was lying fallow for quite some time. Since I was also thinking of my future plans, I decided to maximize it. This is a wise project because it will last longer and help me achieve my goals.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
37152 KES ($360 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before GD came to my life, I did not have any good income. I used to rely on a small income from casual work and odd jobs in my area. In many occasions, I would go for three days without getting any money because I did not have anything to do. I used to struggle to make ends meet and would have to beg and seek help from friends and family just to put food on the table. When I received my first transfer, I used part of it to start a fruit selling business which has been very helpful. I have stopped begging and borrowing because of the profits, I get money for my daily needs. In as much as it is not much but it has changed my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Currently, I wish to start a cloth business. I am currently running a fruit business which has really helped me grow financially from the little profits I get on a daily basis. I would still want to invest more in business since I was not well educated to get a good job. I know my life will never be the same when I have all of my plans in place.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on buying building materials such as timber, nails and timber which I will use to construct a rental house. I had a piece of land I inherited from my parents and it is in a prime area for putting up a rental house. Because I did not have the money to buy building materials, I had not used the land in the best way. I had tried looking for loans but due to low credit reference, I was not able to get a loan. I am glad I will finally make good use of the land. The rest of the transfer I have saved. It will help me in paying for masons and buying food for the masons when they will be constructing the house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($193 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to start transporting people's good using a cart. From my research, most of the people are normally frustrated when moving to new houses or even caring goods from the market. I would like to bridge this gap by purchasing several carts which will be helping in transportation. When this happens, I will also be able to employ other youths in our neighborhood.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am more hopeful and positive with life. I am planning to revive my business of selling juice. The business collapsed because of a few mistakes that I have learned to manage. I know that the business will now be successful and will help me sustain myself and also meet my goals. Apart from that, I also managed to pay for my driving course in full. I am just waiting for exams mid of the month.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had enrolled for a driving course at a nearby institution. My parents were able to raise KES 6000 only but the amount that was needed was 17000 KES. I am glad because I was also able to clear the balance using the transfers which I received from Give Directly. I feel good because I will now be able to sit for the final exams mid this month. Some few months ago, I was operating a juice business and the business had collapsed because the blender became faulty and I was unable to repair it. I was able to start buying utensils and even thinking of buying a blender because reviving this business means a lot to me.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
It was around 4 am in the morning when my friend called me over the phone informing me that he had received his transfer. After the conversation, I checked the message on my phone and I was so happy to realize that mine had also been sent. I knew that my living standards will change. I went back to sleep but I kept on turning and tossing until morning as I kept on thinking about the lump sum amount which I had on my phone.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority is to use the money to start a new business of making and selling fresh fruit juice. Early last year I had the same business but I had to focus on other jobs because I lacked capital to expand it. I will buy a blender and boost my stock of fruits. I will also buy a freezer that will keep my juices fresh and not perishable. The income I get from this business will enable me to sustain my livelihood.
My second priority is to buy some household items such as a carpet,TV and clothes.
Lastly I will use the transfer to expand my mother's business. She sells snacks and cigarettes along the roadside. I will buy her more stock and her profits will increase.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is unemployment because I work in the casual sector industry as a casual labourer. I have no job security because as a group we all depend on the money we collect and most of the time it barely puts food on my table, so I have to work two or three jobs instead. My other job involves touting, I collect fare and ask people to use public vehicles service but since the job is readily available, everyone fights for their shift. As a tout I also face police arrest and brutality and I have been arrested before for that. All these challenges make me worry that I will not have enough capital for my sustainability.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to be an Intelligence officer in future. I have had a dream of helping my country by using my intelligence skills to get criminals and put them to justice. I will go for a police training in 3 years time then after graduating I will work in the police force and later graduate to an intelligence officer. Apart from providing my services to protect the innocent, I will also be able to earn a living from this job and provide for my family's needs.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On usual day I wake up in the morning take a shower, prepare then take breakfast. At around 9:00am I head to work at my group station where we sell water to the residents of Mathare. My job involves collecting money at the water point and I am also a tout with vehicles from Huruma. So I work at the water point until 4:00pm in the evening then head to town for my second job of touting until late at night when I go home and retire to bed.
During my free time I hang out with my friends and family.
