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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before the transfers, I used to strain financially because I did not have any source of income. Sometimes, I would have to seek help from my parent back at home just to meet some of my personal needs like eating. I did not like the kind of life I was leading. I only relied on income from casual motorcycle business which was not very stable. I would have to wait for someone who is off duty to use his motorcycle. In most cases, I would have to forgo meals because I did not have the money to buy food. Ever since I started receiving these transfers, my life has really improved and I do not seek help from my parents anymore. I pay rent in time and I have a good understanding with my landlord. I know when I will start the business, it will be much better than it is now.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Since I do not have any source of income, I would still pay rent as a priority with the transfers. I am planning to save part of it to start a business but for now, my main worry is paying my rent. This is why I will focus the transfer on rent so that I may not be locked out of the house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying house rent. Currently, I do not have any source of income and I rely on the transfers to pay my rent. Without the transfers, I would have been locked out of the house. The remaining part of the transfer I used on buying food. There was not much remaining in the house so I decided to boost the stock we had left in the house.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers from Give Directly is that I don't struggle anymore as it was the case before the transfers. Since I did not have any stable source of income, I would have to rely on a small income from casual work and other odd jobs in the area. Being that I live in an urban setup, life was very unbearable. At times I would beg for what to eat and constantly, I had an issue with my landlord because I was not able to pay my rent in time. A number of months I was locked out of the house and life generally was a struggle. This is why the transfers were a big relief for me. I have managed to clear rent deficits and other minor debts I had with my friends with the transfers. I don't feel the burden of life that much and I feel my life is now moving on because of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal for the next four months is to revive my cloth business which collapsed two months ago. I did not have any source of income and I only depended on the business. I ended up using the business resources for my personal needs without inputting any more to it hence it collapsed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying my house rent. At the time I was receiving the transfer, I did not have any money to pay since I do not have any stable source of income. The rest of the transfer I used on buying food so that I may not run out of what to eat during the month.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 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?
Currently, my life is different from how it was before I started getting help from Give Directly in that I can now meet most of my needs and still save some amount of money. My goal is to start a business using my savings. I have also managed to help my parents by taking care of some of the responsibilities such as paying school fees for my sister. I feel more responsible because I can even manage to pay rent on time. Generally, life has improved since Give Directly came into my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start a business. I want to start selling clothes and shoes because the business is lucrative in this region and from my own research, I feel that this is what I can do best and be successful in it. Currently, I am running a motorcycle business which is doing well. The problem is that I have to hire someone's motorcycle, therefore, the profit is not that much since the owner of the motorcycle takes the biggest share at the end of the day. At times I go without getting money when the motorcycles are engaged. I, therefore, feel that selling second-hand clothes and shoes will boost my income.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent some of my transfer on paying my sister's school fees. My sister had been sent home for a week due to fee arrears. My parents do not have a stable source of income and they usually struggle to pay school fees and meet other household needs. So I chipped in and paid her fee and I feel proud because she was able to study peacefully and the best part of it is seeing my parent having peace of mind since they were relieved a bit. In addition to this, I also paid rent and saved the rest. I normally struggle with paying rent since I don't have a stable source of income. Currently, I hire someone's motorcycle and use it to carry people in order to get money. I feel good because I was able to do all these and there is hope for a bright future.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goals now that I have started receiving the money is to open a boutique. This business is luxurious since most people prefer visiting boutiques compared to other shops since they can find a variety of things under the same roof. I will be saving some money on a daily basis and invest others in this business. I was not able to join college after completing my high school education due to lack of money and I will use my savings after some time to pay for my school fees so that I can go back to school. It has always been my prayer to further my studies and pursue a course in bachelor of commerce since my childhood and I will be so grateful to God seeing my dream come true.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly is that I now live alone and pay my house rent on time unlike before when I used to live with my friend. This always made me buy food since my friend was not comfortable with the idea of cooking inside our house. Living in my own house has helped me be able to cook and not to buy food and I also have the privacy I need all thanks to GiveDirectly for helping me achieve this.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my most recent transfer to buy a chair since I did not have any. I used to borrow from my neighbors even a single seat whenever I had a visitor since some are not comfortable sitting on the bed. I spent the remaining amount to buy some utensils for use since I did not have any. I would always spend the little amount I get from my daily hustles to buy food as I was not in a hurry to buy utensils. I am now glad since I can cook in my own house unlike before.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning when I received a message indicating that I had received some money from GiveDirectly. At that moment, I became so happy since I knew that it was just but the beginning of a change in my life. One can easily accomplish so many things in life if he has money and determination and I was glad since I knew that I had some money at my disposal every month.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will spend my transfers to go to school and complete my University education. I performed well in my high school education and I got selected to partake a business course at the University of Nairobi. I have been unable to realise my dreams because I lacked school fees to proceed with school. I will use my transfers to go to school to realise my dream of attaining a Bachelor's degree in Business Commerce from the University of Nairobi. Secondly, I will spend my transfers to start a transport business in the boda boda sector. I will purchase a motorbike and offer employment to a deserving youth who can operate my bike when I am in school. Finally, I will spend my transfers to assist my siblings who are in primary school. I will assist them with school fees and their daily needs such as meals.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is achieving my ambitions because I feel like the education I have up to now will go to waste if I dont achieve my ambitions, of attaining my degree. I find myself sitting around in my neighborhood with my peers who have not gone to school. We spend the days doing the same things and speaking at the same level. I fear my education and my dreams will go to the drains if I dont go back to school to complete my education. My second concern is family. I grew up in Mathare in great poverty. My fear is to fail to provide for my future family and children, and to have them grow up in poverty in the same circumstances like I did. My third concern is wasting my transfers and not utilising them in the ways that I have planned. My plans for the transfers will help me achieve my dreams. I fear if I dont use my transfers well, I might fail to achieve my dreams.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My biggest ambition is to go back to school and attain my degree. I have been admitted at the University of Nairobi to pursue a business course in Commerce but I lack the funds to proceed. From my degree, I hope to get a good job where I can proceed with my education to even attain a Masters degree.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
My usual day begins at 6:00AM when I wake up. I then read inspirational books and novels up to about 9:00AM, after which I join my friends at our usual sitting place in my neighborhood, as we await to be called upon for any available jobs like construction jobs, conductor jobs or boda boda jobs. We wait around till evening and if there was no job forthcoming, I go back to the house for supper and to retire for the day. On some days, when I am lucky, a friend of mine leaves me his motorbike for a few hours at night, from around 8:00PM, up to midnight, where I can atleast get some small income. On days when I dont get these jobs, I go back to my house in the evening to rest, hoping for a better day the next day. In my free time, I enjoy reading inspirational novels, playing football, and spending time with my friends.
