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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I would like to start farming, especially cabbage. A lot of the villages consume it and If I would get $30000 from the shop's profit, I can start within three months. The current drought has delayed me and as for now I cannot depend on rain and so I have to save for an irrigation system that would help me.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The meeting that we had before the transfer, was helpful. I got to learn a lot about money, where it comes from, and various ways we can use this transfer. And I am happy that I choose to invest it in livestock and it is paying off.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before the transfer, I had one dairy cow that I used to sell milk and use the money to take care of my family's needs. It was tough to get nappy grass and once in a while, I was buying hay that was expensive to maintain. The profits I get from the milk business were used to take care of my child and wife who is a stay-at-home mother. In addition to the milk business, I have a retail shop that helps out with paying bills. It is located in the village and most of the time the income is little. Receiving GiveDirectly money has enabled me to buy another dairy cow for $300 that I milk and sell, bought cows food with the rest of the money $250. This investment has enabled my cows to produce more milk, which I sell at $0.5 a liter. I get enough money to take care of my family and also stock my shop and I am grateful.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was very happy when I first received a message that confirmed the receipt of my transfer at around 5:00 pm. At that moment, I was still in my retail and a Mpesa shop in the nearby shopping center. I could not withdraw my money immediately since I had to serve many customers who were streaming in. After the day, I went home to inform my wife, whom we had planned to use the entire amount to improve our business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the improved profitability after expanding my business with the first transfer. I have realized an increase in the profit margin since both shops are operating efficiently with enough products for the customers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
On receiving the first transfer, we already set all the plans on spending after a discussion with my spouse. I had been operating two businesses under one premise in the nearby shopping center were not doing well since the stock had gone down in the retail shop, and I also had a challenge with the insufficient float in my Mpesa shop. We committed all the money into the business by adding a float of KES 45000 to the Mpesa, and the remaining amount on obtaining new stocks. I am glad then the gradually increasing profit margin clearly depicted the results in both businesses. I am happy that I can now serve many customers whom I could not previously serve, since the services I am offering have increased and satisfying to all customers at all times.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will be a boost to my business. I run a shop and at the same time, I am a Mobile Money agent for a bank. I plan to increase the business's float from KES 100, 000 to KES 170,000 which will enable me to earn a good commission at the end of every month. This in turn will increase the income that I earn and enable me to expand the shop that I run.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Despite receiving low earnings from my income, I am grateful that I can buy food and pay school fees for my wife who is still in school and this has made me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge that I am currently facing having adequate capital for my business. I lose a lot of money when a customer comes to make a transaction and I do not have enough money for that. This makes me unhappy and therefore increasing the float will be a solution to this.