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 currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago because I haven't faced a lot of challenges in raising finances to meet my household needs. This is because I get additional income from GiveDirectly which has boosted me a lot especially when I don't get casual jobs to do.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months, I have an additional goal to use the coming transfers to expand my business. Currently, I sell mandazi but I only make two packets a day. In most cases, I am usually done by 10.00 am in the morning. I believe that by increasing the quantity I'll be able to make more sales thus I'm expecting increased profits. This is why I am so determined to boost this business to ensure that I increase my sales
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I haven't faced a lot of challenges when it comes to meeting my household needs. This has been made possible by the transfers from GiveDirectly which acts as an additional income. Previously, raising money was a challenge because I relied on casual work. These jobs are usually not reliable and pay lowly. It feels better to have a backup plan when things don't go well
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
After expanding my current business I'm planning to use the additional income to start up a new business. There are a few grocery shops in our area but the demand for the vegetables is still high. I believe that when I venture in this business I'll earn a good profit. I expect to have started this business in the next six months and hopefully, I'll be earning a good income from it. This will enable me to raise the school fee for my children in the future without challenges.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My business has really grown over the past few months and I am now able to comfortably provide for my family and have enough money to save in the table banking groups that I joined. I struggled a lot before because whatever little I earned from my business had to be squeezed for my family needs and still have enough to pay at the table banking groups as required by the law governing the groups.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I wish to save some of the next few transfers so that when we start the next farming season, I will be able to afford quality hybrid seeds, hire a tractor to farm my land and hire labourers to help in weeding the farm. I invested a lot in farming this season but all did not work out well as our farms were attacked by the fall armyworms and made worse by the insufficient rains hence the need to invest more in farming this coming season.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The transfers that I have been receiving from Give Directly have enabled me to expand my business beyond what I ever imagined it could be. At the moment, I make enough money to take care of my family's needs comfortably without asking for any help from my husband who mostly depends on casual jobs. This has reduced the pressure he previously had to struggle doing hard labour jobs to take care of the family which had a great impact in his general life. I have also been less worried as I am certain that I can now comfortably pay for the savings required at the table banking group I joined without accruing any fines.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I have a business of supplying doughnuts to the shops in the nearby shopping centre and selling some to a nearby school during break times. It is usually such a task preparing enough doughnuts in time to supply before the rush hour begins and even make it to the school in time for the break. With all the focus and attention that I give to my business, I have neglected my household duties as I do not have enough time to do my house chores. For this to change, I hope that in the next few months, I will be able to employ an assistant who can help me take care of my business, especially with the supplies so that I can have enough time for my family.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Apart from the business, I have always had food on the table for my family. I really used to struggle to raise money to handle all my family needs in time because my income was very little and could not manage all my needs. In most cases, my family would only have one meal in a day. Ever since I started receing these transfers, I ahve been able to provide all the mealks for my cjhildren.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I would want to still boost my business. This is because it is my stable source of income and I would not want to lose it. It has helped me pay school fees in the past and I know when I expand it, I will have a bright future because of a greater profit margin.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that my mandazi business is doing well. Anytime I withdraw too much from the business, it does not fall but instead, I use the transfers to boost the business unlike before when it was my only source of income. Before the transfers, times I would overspend business money on other family issues to an extent that the business collapse. It would again take time to kick-start the business but with the transfers, I have been constantly inputting money in the business so that it does fall. Am glad it is doing well.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would still want to invest in my mandazi business. I would want to improve until it gets to a hotel. This is my goal which I want to achieve with the money.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different because I am now assured of getting some cash to boost my business whenever it is almost hitting rock bottom.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan to buy a fishing net that I will hire out to the fishermen at a small fee so that at the end of each day i will be getting some income instead of just relying on the small business that I run.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to run my business efficiently without having to close down my business every now and then. Right now I do not have to eat so much of my profits into the future so that my business keeps being afloat and generated income tat can generate income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I plan to continue running my business efficiently so that it generates more money from me in the future. I will then use the profits to cater for the family financial needs in the house.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is that my business is running so smoothly without the fear of it collapsing for lack of capital. I now make more profits.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I hopeful that my life shall have changed for the better though I am not sure hoe.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I not received the transfer in that my business has picked up so well and the profits are also increasing so well.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Currently I do not have any new goals.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is how to feed my family. Last year I spent a lot of money on farming and ended up getting nothing to take home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when singing with our choir members. This is my way of serving God.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfer on expanding my business of selling dough nuts. This will increase my daily income.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is that through farming I managed to buy furniture and my visitors can now sit comfortably.