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
53150 KES ($490 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am currently busy, I do not iddle around anymore because I was able to start up a business with the Give Directly transfers. Besides that, the income I earn from the business has enabled me to be independent. I nolonger rely on spouse for everything.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion it was a good thought for Give Directly to give people cash without any conditions. This enabled people to improve their lives. On the other hand there is nothing that they are not doing right.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I restocked my retail shop with the second transfer. I revived it using the first transfer after it collapsed because it was the main source of income and I had no means of boosting it. Si certainly it had not picked well I had to boost it with the second transfer. I am glad it is well stocked and I am currently earning good income from it.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can still remember very well when I was preparing breakfast for my family when I heard my phone ringing. I was a bit curious, I decided to check the content of the message. I was more than excited, to realize that I had received my transfers from GiveDirectly. It really made my morning
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The fact that I managed to start a kiosk business makes the biggest diffence in my daily life. I have been longing to run thus business for years but I could not afford it. I opted in starting the business because in my villages the kisks are countable. As at now the business is picking and making good returns. I am positive that I will no longer strain in clearing my bills and meeting my family basic needs like I used to do.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a larger portion of my first transfer on starting a kiosk business. This has been my well thoughtful business but because I did not have the required capital, I could not achieve it. Also, with the reming amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and at least now we are taking two meals in a day unlike before whereby we used to take a single meal or go without.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a steady income for my family. I am an ambitious woman without enough resources to support my family. I have a goal of starting a retail shop along the road since this is where I will attract a good number of customers thus more profit. With a steady flow of income, I can improve my family's living standards such as replacing my leaking roof.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a mother who is not actively engaged in any formal job, the happiest part of my day is in the evening when my family is all in the house. This is the time when my husband who is our bread winner in the family has also got back home with food for our supper. I feel good when we relax together ready to take our supper and retire to bed to rest.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I primarily depend on my husband who is a casual laborer for my family's basic needs. Before the COVID 19 pandemic came in, he was able to meet our household daily basic needs because he was employed as a teacher at a local primary school.The biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life is the lack of resources to meet my household needs. My husband's teaching job ended after the pandemic struck us forcing us to depend on hard charcoal business that hardly raises enough income to meet my family needs mainly food and a proper roof over our heads.
