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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($447 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would welcome the opportunity to grow my company. I wish I could have the opportunity to potentially make enough money to sell goods at wholesale prices. The increased income should allow me to provide for my children in the future, see them through school, and support them as they begin their lives. Hopefully, this will allow my husband to join me at the shop, and we will be able to hire someone to do the boda boda work that he currently does.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is exceptional at changing people's lives. We were struggling with expenses, and the funds from GiveDirectly allowed us to go from sinking to floating in an instant. I can only hope that they continue to be of similar salvation to others who are in the same situation as I was.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
GiveDirectly enabled me to finally prioritize growing my current business. I own a small mini-mart where I sell everything from toothbrushes to soap to flour and milk. In Ganze, my husband works as a boda boda operator, earning between $5 and $8 per day. With a limited budget, covering recurring expenses like school fees was difficult, but thankfully, GiveDirectly was there to help. The $15 and $5 per month paid to Mdizumitsamo School for my PP1 and Play Group kids, respectively, were putting a strain on us when money was tight. GiveDirectly truly lifted us out of a bad situation and into one of comfort and gratitude.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can vividly recall the moment I received my transfer, it was at exactly 7:16 am when I received a Mpesa message showing that I had received funds from GiveDirectly. Words cannot explain the immense joy that I felt. I knew that I would be able to accomplish the goals that I had. I later shared the good news with my husband then afterwards we agreed on how we would spend it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life is different since I received my transfer from GiveDirectly. In that, we no longer go to bed on an empty stomach like before or have to purchase foodstuffs on credit. This is because I was able to put up a shop which has so far been a stable source of income for us. Indeed it's the greatest achievement in my life from employment to self-employment. I am so thankful for the support from GiveDirectly that changed our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I are blessed with two children, I used to work as a cook in a local nursery school and my husband is unemployed. Life has not been easy for us because we were all depending on our little income to sustain ourselves. We depended on purchasing foodstuffs on credit. When I received my transfer, I saw it fit to start a business selling household items, especially the foodstuffs. Thus I used KES 49,000 in putting up the shop. Lastly, I used the remaining amount in paying back foodstuffs debts. I am glad to have accomplished so much that I was unable to do before due to financial constraints.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
When I get this money I would like to start a kiosk selling vegetables. I believe this line of business is exactly what this area needs. Right now people walk about five kilometres to the nearest market which is Ganze. Starting this business will save them the travel which affects the grand cost of acquiring the commodity. If I can get around 40000 KES, it would be enough for initial investment where I'll use my father's main house for a premise and the whole amount for stock and display racks. At the moment my husband is a motorcycle taxi rider in the village since the beginning of the year while I'm a cook at a local kindergarten. Both our earnings can only amount to 500 KES daily. It might be enough today but we have children who are attending school and soon enough, they'll be a bigger need for their school fees. This is why we need to create new sources of income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I was so happy in the month of January when my husband decided to come back home and be with us full time. He used to be a carpenter at Mombasa town for the last four years while I was living in the village with children. He finally ditched that job and decided to be a motorcycle taxi rider in the village so that he can spend more time with his family. Of course there's a reduction in his income, but I badly needed the emotional support.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My husband is a motorcycle taxi rider in the village. He uses a rented bike which means he has to pay the owner before making his own money. It's really hard to make anything above 3000 KES per day. This is mostly because in the village we rarely get random customers. You must have a lengthy client list to work effectively. We get our customers through phone calls and referrals. Because he's new in this industry, he makes very little due to low number of customers
