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 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before GiveDirectly came, doing odd jobs were my main source of income but they had various challenges such as merger payment and reliable which made me idle around. I never like this life which was visionless. Currently, the biggest difference in my life is that I have started a small retail business that I am making my money from its profits. I feel the most self-empowered person because my life is now better than before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
It has always hurt me see my single mother struggle to raise my siblings because of merger income she gets out of doing causal jobs. My additional goal is to save money from my small retail shop business and assist my mother raise my sibling mainly in their educations.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer on settling school arrears for my sister who I enrolled in high school with the second transfer 15,000 KES it's with the greatest joy that I am seeing her go to school because without GIveDirectly I don't think she would have seen her dream of attending high school due to lack of money to educate her. The remaining amount I built a traditional house in the countryside.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($369 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?
Initially, I used to do casual works to earn an income. This was very tiresome and unreliable because there are days that I earned zero income. As firstborn others call us deputy parents all the responsibilities were pegged on me. My parents passed on years back and my siblings were looking up to me for support. This was never easy but I am grateful to GD. I have been able to generate income and comfortably provided for my family in surplus.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My goal is to expand my current shop to a bigger shop and stock more spare parts to generate more income. With the garages around I am able to sell more spare parts. This will help me to sustain my family from the revenue earned. I desire to ensure all my siblings finish school because that would have been the wish of my parents.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my recent transfer, I boosted my business by adding more stock. I had used the first transfer to start a spare part shop located next to a garage. This business has seen me generate income more than what I used to make as a janitor.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($200 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 new goal is to pay school fees for my son who is in class 8. I would not want him to be sent home for school fees so that he can make use of the time he is in school to study and pass his examinations. I would want him to join a good secondary which can only happen if he gets good marks in his final examinations.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I am not borrowing as I used to. I nowadays have money because of GD. I used to struggle to make ends meet but due to the money I got from GD, my business has been doing well and as a result, I have never lacked money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my first transfer on boosting my workshop business by renting a business premise and to add more stock. I used to do the business but share a store to keep my equipment because I could not afford to rent my own place for the business. I know with the business I will improve my profit because I have a specific place and gives good relations and be able to maintain all the customers to enhance my services to them to improve on my profits.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was very happy because it was a life-changing opportunity. I could not keep the joy to myself and had to make noise in the house.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I want to start a business of my own. I want to get a shop where I can sell men and ladies shoes. I can also hire someone to run the shop as I continue with my casual jobs. This will change my life, since i will have some assurance that of some profits at the end of the month, as compared to casual jobs that are not very reliable.
Secondly, I want to invest in my sisters' and daughters' education. My sister has just cleared her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (K.C.P.E) this month. I want her to go to secondary school next year. My daughter is also about to start nursery school. I want to prepare inadvance. When they are educated they can be able to help each other and the family in future.
Lastly, I would like shift from Mathare. I am born and raised here. I have not been able to shift with the money that I have been making, but now with GiveDirectlys' money I will be able to shift. I would also want some privacy too, I have been living close to my sisters, now I want to leave for them to be independent too.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is unemployment, I am a casual worker and at times I may lack jobs to do, leading me to borrow money from my wife. Lack of money brings unhappiness at home and I want a happy family.
What are your greatest ambitions?
I want my children to have a good life, in that from my hard work, they will have some heritance when they grow up, even if it is running my shoe business when I am old. I would not want them to go through the hustles I have been through in life.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up in the morning, take a shower and later have my breakfast. Before I leave for work I pray with my family. In the evening I go back home, take my supper, pray with my family then rest.
In my free time I relax at home as I listen to music.
