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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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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
34
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($462 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since I did not have any better house to live in, I had a plan to build a new and a better one. The spacious two bedroomed house would serve me better in terms of accommodating all my household members, three children, my husband and I. Thereafter, I developed an additional goal of buying a lactating cow. In late 2021, I sold the only cow I had in my life in order to meet the medication cost for my lXittle baby who had been unwell from birth. Although I do not regret selling the only cow my family had then, it has been pretty hard for my family to acquire milk for my young baby because both my husband and I do not have a reliable source of income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in reaching out to all of us who benefited from the program. This has helped in terms of making the organization to gauge the impact its program on our community. For instance, as a result of the transfer, I have been able to acquire another cow after I had sold one last year. I am therefore much relieved from the burden of buying milk for my family. Although GiveDirectly does so well in its manner of operation, it would be much better if it could consider coming to work again in our villages.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In an attempt to clear paying medical bill for my little baby, I had to sell the only cow I had then. This left my family with nothing to rely on as source of milk for my household. When I received my recent transfer, I spent KES 30,000 on buying a lactating cow. I am glad that from the milk surplus, I can usually make daily sale of KES 70 from 2 liters of milk. As a result, I am currently able to support my husband in terms of buting food for my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That day I was at home relaxing after taking my lunch. I least expected the money around that time although we had been informed that we were going to receive the money sometime that month. I felt so happy knowing very well that my dream of buying a new sewing machine(singer) would become a reality. I took a breath, relaxed and reorganized my plans again. I was overwhelmed that my life and that of my children was going to change for the better considering that I am a single mother.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is the fact that my business has been boosted by a great deal. The sewing machine that I bought is a life changing investment that has helped me stabilize my business. I have increased the number of sweaters that I make from 3 to 10 right now. The amount of income that I earn has risen from KES 150 Per day to KES 300 Per day. This has improved the living standards of my family as well. I feel so proud that I am able to give my three children a better living standard and I am optimistic that my business will even stabilize the more.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 45000 to buy a sewing machine. This is a machine that I had always desired to have. I had bought one sewing machine in the past but had depreciated with time. This was affecting my sewing business as I could only make three sweaters per day. The amount of money that I made was hardly enough to feed my three children and meet other family needs. There was a time I had accumulated almost enough money to buy a new sewing machine but one of my babies fell sick. I had to use the savings to meet hospital expenses and had to continue using the old machine. With GiveDirectly transfers, my dream has now been actualized and I am able to sew up to 10 sweaters per day. This earns me up to KES 300 Per day which is enough to sustain my family and even save some. The remaining amount was used to buy other materials that enabled me upscale my business.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a reinforced income to my household. I have always yearned for a new sewing machine but this dream has been cut short as I did not have money to fulfil it. I intend to use KES 45000 to purchase a sewing machine for the one I currently own is less efficient. I knit cardigans for school going children for a living. When the business is at a peak, I earn on average KES 4500. From this, I pay KES 1000 school fees for my 2 children in grades 3 and Pre-primary 1, purchase food for them and use some to buy knitting yarns for the business. Furthermore, I will be able to produce more cardigans hence have more stock to sell on the market day, which is only once a week, therefore an increased income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
On a normal day, when I wake up in the morning, I prepare breakfast for my 2 children and subsequently feed and milk the cow. I spend the better part of the day knitting sweaters in preparation for the next market day, which is always on a Monday. I am always happy in the evening when I have achieved my target of knitting 8 sweaters per day. With this, I am sure that I will have enough stock to sell on the market day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints have been my biggest hardship. I depend on knitting school cardigans for a living. It is so unfortunate that the sewing machine I am using is old and less efficient as I produce fewer sweaters for sale. I produce 30 sweaters per week, which I sell at KES 220 each. This is insufficient to purchase food, pay school fees for my 2 children and purchase knitting yarns as I don't sell all of them at a go. On a good day, I do sell 20 sweaters hence earn KES 4400.