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?
I did my secondary school two years ago and due to lack of finances, I could not continue with studies. So I decided to find an income-generating activity to help me meet my needs and invest in a business. Things did not work well and it was a struggle until GD came to my life. These days I have my own money and I do not have to seek help as before. I am financially stable because I have a hairdresser business which is my main source of income.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My main goal, for now, is to assist my mother in raising school fees for my sister. It is my dream to see my sister have the best while in school because she is bright and I know if she gets ample time in school, she will definitely pass her examinations. After getting good grades, she will be able to go to university and get a well-paying job to help support our lives.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to gift to mother who had requested for help to take my sister back to school. She did not have enough money required for paying school fees and buying school requirements for her. She would not have been allowed to report back to school without fees and the requirements. So we came together as siblings to aid our monther with money to see our sister report back to school.
12th 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?
Apart from my job as a hairdresser, I have also managed to set up a business in fish which I sell through my friend, courtesy of these transfers. This has been a very good financial booster because I have an extra source of income in case I don't make enough from the main job. The transfers I have been receiving enabled me to set up this business which I am very sure would not have been possible I were to raise the capital from my own savings. Having an extra source of income has also boosted my savings in our table banking group which is higher than I have ever saved in a year since I joined the group.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I am a hairdresser, but I do not have my own salon, so I work at a friend's salon where I pay a commission from each of my customers for working in her salon. This has been my life for a very long time and I feel it's time for me to have my own salon where I can also employ other people. My current goal is to have my own salon by next year, which I hope to set up using the savings that I have accumulated in our table banking group throughout the year boosted by the transfers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I took a loan from my table banking group last month to cater to emergency medical needs by one of my relatives back at home. With most of this month's transfer, I cleared the loan, then spent the rest on my own personal needs.
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?
I have been struggling for long in balancing between paying rent and meeting the basic needs like foodstuffs and house expenses because the little money I earn from my daily job was not sufficient to fulfil all these. However, my life is now changed because the little I earn plus the money from GiveDirectly has enabled me to fulfil my needs with ease.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I am currently working as a fishmonger in town which is the only source of income to me so far. I am planning to invest in other businesses like selling second-hand clothing which does better. By doing this, I will have diversified my sources of income for greater profits.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the whole of my most recent transfer to cover for my medical bill and paying for some medicines. I was hospitalized for some days due to an illness. I am grateful for the finacial support because I would not have cleared this bill if at all I was to do it at my own cost.
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 is to start a new business where I sell second hand clothes. I will save part of the income from my business and use the savings to start this new business. This will thus boost the source of income to meet my family basic needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I have started a new business. In the past, I have been depending on my spouse to provide all the basic needs for my family but I am now happy since I can use the income from my business to provide some of the basic needs such as food and pay rent.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my most recent transfer to boost my business where I sell fish. When I received my first transfer I started the business but the income I got from the business was little since I did not have enough stock. I used my transfer to buy more fish and the income I now get from the business is enough to meet all my family needs and pay school fees for my children.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was so happy when I received my transfer since I knew that I will start a new business which I have been thinking of but I have never got the money to venture into the business.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
First priority will be investing in my business, ever since I was young it has also been a talent and passion in hair styling, but due to financial reason, I couldn't afford renting a shop whereby I use my verandah as place of business, I find it to be challenging, especially during raining seasons where I do not operate my business, hence I will use part of transfers to rent a shop.Second priority I will use part of transfers to educate my children, to me its important to give them education because I strongly believes that, if they study and get good job they will give back to me by helping me in big projects like building my house. Third priority I will use part of transfer by helping my mother to improve her house, because now she is concentrating in educating my siblings but her house is nearly to collapse.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is violence this is because, violence has never brought any benefits to community or to country, I can give an example of 2017 elections where more NGOs left our country due to fear of fighting. Even after election many people kill each other due to political differences.
What are your greatest ambitions?
Due to talent that i have, my wish has always been, being one of famous hair styling in country, hence, I see myself having branches of salon business across the country and this means that my living standard will be uplifted.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
Woke up at 6:30am, where I will prepare breakfast for my family, then i will do the house chores, maybe at around 1:00pm I will prepare lunch, then will wash dishes and my children, afterwards I will relax as I watch Nigeria movies, Telemundo which is my favourite. At around 6:30 go and look for supper and prepare it then later go to bed.
