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
55000 KES ($457 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?
Currently, I am running a maize-selling store where I receive dry maize from a lorry in bulk and break them down to sell to the immediate consumers in the village in bits. This business has been profitable since it pays most of the household bills while maintaining the growth of my savings account. I have a new goal to expand it using the proceeds I have been getting from the current one. Its outcome will boost the clearance of larger bills including school fees for my three children and other household needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The idea to give monetary support by GiveDirectly was the best, as it solved individual problems that material goods would not have solved. Decisions were diverse in that some people settled debts, started new businesses, bought foodstuff, and livestock, and cleared school fees for their children. I am grateful to GiveDirectly since they kept their promise by delivering timely support and equipped us will all the security information to safeguard our transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the second transfer, I spent KES 30000 clearing the entire year's tuition fees for my son. He is currently in secondary school enjoying ample time and attending all lessons without any interference till January when I will pay again. I also injected KES 15000 into the maize-selling business I had been running and am glad that I have been making an appreciable profit since then that has boosted my savings account. I am also confident that at this rate, I will be open to venturing into a new project or expanding the business in the future. I spent the remaining KES 10000 on settling the debts I had and also purchased foodstuff for my family of five. I am grateful for the support from GiveDirectly and looking forward to a more lucrative business in the future.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($476 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That morning I woke up at around 6 am and while checking for a time that's when I saw an Mpesa notification on my phone. On checking, I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very excited and immediately went to the nearest MPesa to withdraw.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the purchase of a heifer. This is because it will soon reproduce and be a source of milk for my family hence reduced household expenses.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I normally work as a maize vendor for the past five years where I normally get KES 300 on market days. My husband also works as a casual tailor where he gets a meager income. From this, we get income to feed the family.
So when I received the transfer, I spent KES 30,000 on a heifer. This will be a source of milk for my family soon. Initially, I used to rely on my parent's dairy cows but all were sold out. As a result, I have been buying a liter of milk per day at KES 60 for the past year.
Secondly, I spent KES 8,000 on two bags of maize. So far we have consumed half a sack of maize and the remainder can sustain us for the next two months.
Thirdly, I spent KES 8,000 on the latest clothing fashion best worn for special occasions. This is because earlier we used to afford only second-hand clothes.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My husband and I do not have formal jobs. I do small business while my husband does casual work in a tailoring shop near our home. We have managed to see our family throughout these jobs and we are grateful for them. My husband is a trained tailor and he has enough experience in tailoring. It has always been our wish that we established our shop so that we could enjoy all the profits alone. This has not been achieved due to limited resources in our family. Receiving this cash transfer to us is a dream come true. I am planning to spend KES 30000 to buy a sewing machine and other tailoring materials. This will be our happiness since my husband will be self-employed. We will be enjoying all the profits alone and have a better working environment. We are planning to use the income in our child school fees and other family developments.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My family's daily basic needs are always my priority. I wake every day to go to work to afford a meal for my household. In the last six months, the good health of our maize plantation has been a source of happiness. Every time I look at them, I see the hope of enough food for my family and stress-free life in search of our daily bread.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial stability is the challenge I am currently facing. Though I do maize business earn a profit of approximately KES 150 a day, we live a hand-to-mouth life. Thus this is entirely spent on our daily needs. Having capital to start our business is not possible because we hardly save.
