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?
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a business of my own. Before the transfers, I did not have a reliable source of income because I used to depend on a small income from house construction. I would really struggle to make ends meet for my family. I would sometimes borrow just to ensure we have food in the house. This is why I decided to start a business as an investment with the transfers to help me even after the transfers. I would not want to go back to the struggles I had before the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to buy food which will sustain us during the period in which there is a fear of COVID-19. So many are affected in the area because we don't operate as usual and business is down. At such time I will ensure we have enough food to take in the house during this time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on boosting my cloth business by adding more stock to the business. This has been my main source of income since I started getting the transfers. I have always dedicated part of my monthly transfers in making the business stable by boosting the business so that it may be able to sustain my needs long after the transfers.
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 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?
Paying my house rent on time is the biggest difference GiveDirectly has offered me this is because I no longer get in logger heads with my landlord over long overdue rent arrears . On the other hand my business has grown because the profits I make on a daily basis caters for restocking the business since the transfers cuts a bigger role in the provision of my urgent basic needs such as rent and buying food.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My goal is to expand my retail shop into a wholesale business before GiveDirectly phases out its project. I will be saving part of my income while I use the remaining to cater for my needs. The accumulated shall enable me to invest more on my retail shop. Therefore, I will later use the savings from the profits of the business for my college fees since my dream has always to pursue a course in mechanical engineering. I believe when I accomplish all it shall be a start of a new life out of the slum.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my recent transfer to restock in my retail shop business. This business is my only source of income and increasing its stock means an addition of my daily profits that its very important to the growth of my entire business . I added part of my savings to the remaining amount and paid my house rent.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different ever since I started receiving transfers from Give Directly in that, I can now effectively fulfil my daily needs. The monthly transfers have helped me in paying for my house rent over the months. I also managed to buy more stock for my retail shop. I recently added different kinds of products to this shop and I believe it will attract more customers. I believe it will be able to sustain me for a very long time especially with the variety of goods that I added, there is a possibility of attracting different customers
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I recently opened a shop in which I sell different kinds of products. My goal is to upgrade this retail shop into a wholesale shop in the near future. I am planning to accumulate more savings that will enable me to invest more on my retail shop. The money I got from Give Directly has boosted me a lot towards achieving this goal.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 2700 of my recent transfer to add more stock to my retail shop. The shop is doing well but it needs a little boost once in a while. Apart from that I also spent KES 1500 to buy a few household items such as food. I saved the rest of the money on my phone because I believe it will help me in future either on my business or settle an emergency.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goal now that I have started receiving the money is to upgrade my malimali business to retail one. By doing so, I will have increased my daily income. I will be saving part of my income while I use the remaining to cater for my needs. I will later use my savings to pay for my college fees since my dream has always been to pursue a course in mechanical engineering. I will look for a job after completing my studies so that I will not be depending on only one source of income.
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 pay my house rent on time unlike before. My daily income from my business has now increased hence allowing me to pay my rent on time. This is possible because I used my transfers to expand my business and it has generated more income which I will be using to pay for my rent since I will be using part of my transfers to buy food.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my most recent transfer to add some stock in my malimali business. This business is my only source of income and the only way I can increase my daily profits is by expanding the business so that my customers can have a variety of items to choose from. I saved the remaining amount so that I could use them in case of an emergency.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
My heart was filled with happiness the moment I started receiving my money. This money gave me hope that I would be able to expand my business as I now had an alternative source of income.
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Investing in my exsiting business is a priority,i sell water here at mathare, and adjacent there is room for build. My partner and I want to build a toilet and bathroom to serve the community.It will be of great help to the community around and we have an advantage since we are near a water point. Secondly i would take myself to school for driving lessons i want to know how to ride a motorbike,so that i can do some casual jobs at the side. Then lastly i would want to focus on my livestock,i have for ducks and a few chickens,getting supply of food for them will be a priority
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is police violence. As a young man in Mathare one is easily targetted by the police. I may be sitting with my boys at our base and a policeman comes and harrasses us and starts accusing us of doing something wrong while honestly there is nothing wrong we are doing. There is also harrasment from village elders,i may have customers and friends that constantly come to my place of work and they may be involved in wrongful acts,the elders are quick to accuse me also of being in the group while i am not involved in anyway.
What are your greatest ambitions?
I stay with a friend of mine, i would want to shift and have a place of my own. I would want to be a driver one day, work as a company driver and have a car of my own for leisure
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up go open my business at around six in the morning and i close at ten in the evening,if business is abit down and there is water shortage i can go visit friends and watch a movie back home.
