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 ($480 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?
The walls of my shop are made of timber. There's a time some shops caught fire sometimes back and because of this, I am now thinking of renovating it. I am planning to start saving part of my profits so that I will later use it to acquire all the necessary materials. Changing the timber walls into bricks makes it permanent and I will have cushioned myself from losses in case of accidents like fire outbreaks.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion, GiDirectly did well by giving out financial aid in terms of cash and making it unconditional. By doing so, it uplifted the living standards of people in my area. Because of this, people have built iron-roofed houses and bought live assets like dairy cows and goats. In addition, the financial aid has been a relief to people operating different businesses since apart from using the cash to restock our businesses, people were able to clear their debts.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I operate a shop business in our neighboring trading center. This has been my source of livelihood for the last 16 years and it has enabled me to achieve a lot of things in life. First, I have been able to educate my nephew till university level, have bought a piece of land and I am currently sponsoring my niece in her education. When I received my transfer, I decided to spend KES 45000 to boost this business by acquiring more stock, and using the remaining amount, I bought some clothes for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11pm while trying to sleep when I heard an SMS notification on my phone. On checking, I confirmed to have received KES55000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and grateful because I had never received such a lump sum.
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 the transfers is addition of my shop stock from KES70000 to over KES100000 hence more profit. Although the prices of commodities are currently high by increasing the stock I get better profits.
I started my business over 10 years ago and have been using the profits to run the business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer on purchase of addition of major commodities like sugar, wheat flour and rice in bulk for my shop. The remaining KES 6000 was spent on clothing and food.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have resorted to adopting one or two children after trying in vain to conceive for about 30 years. However, I think and feel that I am not well prepared to do so since I am not financially stable. Hence, receiving this money means that I shall be ready to execute the idea. The failure for me to conceive has attracted lots of adverse impacts; my former husband left me, my self-esteem is so low and I feel cursed. Therefore, I will use virtually all my transfers (KES 110000) on acquiring more stock for my shop business to ensure that I run a more profitable project. Currently, profits from the business are barely enough to sustain us.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I tend not to find anything that has brought real joy in my life since I am in distress of getting a child. However, getting the company of my niece about eight months ago has somehow eased and brightened my life. Now I have someone to stay with and send around. Even though my age has significantly advanced (I am 48 years old now), I have not lost the hope of conceiving.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest challenge that I have been facing since my adulthood is my inability to conceive. I have yearned to get a child because I find no value in struggling to amass wealth yet no one will use and inherit them. Also, I feel that there is no continuity in my life once I die. Though I am staying with my niece, I feel I am not complete and safe. These worries and fears have attracted adverse consequences. For instance, I developed high blood pressure in the year 2016, and I am still under medication for the same.
