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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($490 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I have started achieving some of my goals which I did not think I could have managed by this time. I am employed and earn 5000KES which has always limited me from achieving some of my goals. I am proud of having just a few days to start operating my salon courtesy of the GiveDirectly's transfer. I hope to end everything well with my boss next week so as to start chasing this dream.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start a barbershop next to my salon. I will want to target all kinds of personalities. When this actualizes, I am certain of getting more income for my development goals.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been doing two jobs. I have one that I am paid which I normally finish by around one o'clock and the other one is like a course which I am determined to finish in order to start my own salon. When I received the recent transfer, I decided to spend a large portion of it to rent a business premise and buy most of the items that are needed for me to run my salon. I am yet to finalize logistics and start operating it by next week. I feel so happy about the decision that I have made since I know that this is where I will get money to meet my goals. I finally decided to keep the remaining amount of money as savings hoping to buy some other business items later on.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
37152 KES ($359 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
GD transfers have helped transform my financial life. I did not have any form of income and I used to struggle to make ends meet. I had an idea of starting a business but since I did not have any capital, I could not start the business. I tried looking for ways to raise or get money to start the business but due to my low credit reference, I could not even get a loan. With GD transfers, I can see the dream of starting the business becoming a reality because I have bought part of the requirements. I could not have managed on my own to start the business and maybe I would be giving up by now.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I working on starting a salon business. As per now, I have bought some equipment with part of my transfers and I am still looking forward to using the next transfer on renting a premise and buying stock to start the business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on starting a salon business. I did not have any source of income and I was straining to earn a living. I only depend on a small income from casual work which was very inconsistent. I have been also struggling to raise money to pay school fees arrears for my children. With this business I want to start with these transfers, I know I will be able to meet all my financial needs very well and at ease with my profits from the business. The rest of the transfer I used on paying school fees arrears for my children who were not going to get their report cards without the money.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($194 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 new goal is to complete a short course in hairdressing which I am currently undertaking. My ultimate goal is to eventually have a saloon. I want to have a business and stop depending on casual jobs which are normally unreliable. Having my own business will give me the satisfaction that I have always wanted for a long time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I had been tied in debts from time to time because of the little income that could not be enough to sustain me. When I received my transfer and managed to offset all of them, It was a big relief to me. The peace of mind which I have at heart after paying all the debts is the biggest difference that I have seen in my daily life . The money helped me to pay rent which I had defaulted for a month and cleared the pending college fees. My basic needs were also met easily.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer to pay for a hairdressing course. I want to open my saloon after acquiring the skills which will help me run the business well. Currently, I have been doing laundry work for my neighbors in order to earn a living. The work has it's challenged in that, the money is little and the input is much hence I end up being overworked by the end of the day. I can not remember the last time that I had a good time to rest. Being my own boss is what I have desired for a long time and having a saloon will be a dream come true. Besides that, I paid rent. I am glad that I do not owe my landlord a single coin. Part of the money was spent on food and clothes. I finally sent my mother the remaining amount for her upkeep.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt very happy. I knew that my livings standards will definitely change. I read the message in the morning that was informing me that GiveDirectly had sent the transfer. I had mixed reactions but I opted to keep calm because I knew that I was not in the right state of mind to start planning on how I was going to use the transfer. I could only thank GiveDirectly for the blessing.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority, I will go back to college and study hairdressing. I have been working in Eastleigh washing clothes and I would want to be self- employed by running my own business. The money I receive from washing clothes is not enough for my upkeep.
Secondly, I will buy salon equipment after finishing college. I will buy equipment as I will be looking for a place to open my business. Thirdly, I will rent a shop in Mashimoni, Mathare. I am well known in Mashimoni, this will provide a ready market for my business and I expect to get alot of profit in return.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is housing because if I don't pay rent in time, I fear that I will be thrown out of my house by the landlord. Since I separated with my husband last year, who was the sole bread winner of the family when I found out that he was cheating on me, life has not been easy supporting my child as a single mother. I have been really struggling so much to pay rent and buy food because the little income that I get from my employer is always not enough. Paying my house rent is vital to me because at the end of the day I have a small child and we both need somewhere we can sleep, rest and call home. I would not want to bother my relatives or friends by begging for a place to sleep. There are times that I have found myself in debts inorder to buy food, clothing and to pay for a nearby day care for my child. I sometimes fear that I may lose my belongings through auctioning if I fail to clear my debts on time.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to become a successful business woman in future. I would want to open a salon and a boutique in Huruma Mathare. Currently I do not have any skill in hairdressing but because of the passion that I have, I plan to enroll in a technical school in order to acquire the skill. I believe that this business will change my life completely because I will be in a position to provide for my son's daily upkeep. This will give me an opportunity to move him out of Mathare slums because it is not a conducive environment with alot of challenges. I always fear that he may end up engaging in drugs, crime or early marriage. I would want him to have a good life as well as having quality education.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On my usual day I wake up at 6:00am, I prepare for breakfast, wash utensils and then I take a bath. I then take my child who is nine months old to a nearby day care as I leave for work in Eastleigh. I arrive at my workplace at 9:00am and embark on washing clothes at my employers house, clean house and wash utensils until 2:00pm when I return back to my house. Later on at 3:00pm I pick my child from the day care center, head to my house where I prepare lunch, wash my clothes and then clean my house and take a nap. I then wake up at 6:00pm to prepare supper for my family. After having supper, I pray, thanking God for the day and then I retire to sleep. In my free time I like to relax at home.
