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 have witnessed financial independence since I started receiving these transfers. Before the transfers, I used to rely on my parents and spouse for handling most of my needs. This is because I did not have any stable income. I would seek help in any financial need I had. Ever since I started receiving these transfers, I have a business which has helped me meet my needs well and in time without seeking help from anyone any more. The difference has helped and is not a beggar anymore.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to boost my juice business by adding more stock to the business. I would want to have a good stock which will raise my income from the profits. I have been doing business on small stock and in most cases, I always run out of what to sell. I would want to avoid this because it makes me lose customers.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on buying school uniform for my sister as she was reporting back to school this year. She had been given notification by her teacher to get new ones when reporting back. My parents did not have the money so they requested me to come in for them. I am glad my sister is studying well in school.
11th 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?
I had been a smokies vendor in our area to earn a living. In a family of unemployed members, my business was seen to be the primary source of income thus I had no option but to fully support my family daily household needs. My business was too small with a meager income to persist the daily household needs thus it collapsed. I was devastated and left stranded in life not knowing what to lean on next. Coincidentally, the month my business shut down is the same month GiveDirectly showed up in our society. I felt so happy to receive them and I attribute my great changes in my current daily life to them. First, I started a second-hand clothes business which I boosted with my second transfer. Therefore, the business has picked up so well being that during this cold season most people like wearing warm clothes thus I serve so many customers. I am thankful to GiveDirectly for financial empowerment. I currently have peace of mind since I have better income to support my family's daily needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I have been thinking around securing for my child's future lately because I am a single parent and I intend to give her the best life can offer hence my new goal is to save and I have already joined jamii Sasco where I have save part of the income from my business and my monthly transfers to make this goal achievable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my recent transfer to pay medication bills for my sister who was ailing. I am happy that she was able to get medical services on time and now she is good of health . The remaining transfers I have saved in my Mshwari locked savings account purposely to boost my business.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($49 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?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, taking care of my needs have been easy. Taking care of my younger sister's school fees and other needs like buying her a school uniform and shoes has not been tressful. I have learned the art of planning in that, whatever profits that I get from my business is channeled towards taking care of the daily needs and the transfer goes towards paying school fees.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I do not have any new goal at the moment. My focus is to continue boosting my new business to a place where it can be stable. With the kind of positive input that I have seen in the few weeks that I have been operating it, I feel that this is what I want to do.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer on starting up a business. I sell clothes. In the past couple of months, I was selling smokies but this business had collapsed. I had thought of many ideas but came up with one which is selling jackets. This has been helpful and the business has picked up so well being that during this cold season most people like wearing warm clothes. The business is doing well. I can not complain. I can only thank GiveDirectly for the financial empowerment.
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 hotel business. I will save the income from my business where I sell boiled eggs and sausages and also save part of my monthly transfers and use the savings to start this business. This business will generate more income to provide for my family and pay school fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have started a new business where I sell boiled eggs and sausages something which I did not have in the past. I used to depend on the little money I get from casual jobs to get money to buy food, pay school fees and pay rent. I am now happy since the income from my business is enough to meet all my family basic needs and I no longer struggle to provide for my family as I used to do in the past. I can also help my mother to pay rent.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used my most recent transfer to pay hospital bill and buy medication for my child who was admitted in the hospital. I settle the hospital bill using my transfers since the money I got from casual job was little and I could not meet all my basic needs.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was very happy when I received my transfers since for a long time I have been depending on casual jobs to provide the basic needs for my family. I knew that I will venture into a new business to get an income to provide for my family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority goes to payment of rent. I live with my mum, my daughter and siblings. We have been struggling financially for quite sometime now. We have a huge rent debt that I would like to help my mother out with part of this monies. Secondly, I will buy my daughter her therapy shoes. I have a sick daughter who was diagnosed with rickets and has been undergoing therapy.She is required to have some shoes that I haven't been able to get because of financial constraints. This is my major use that I will put this monies into. Lastly, I would love to pay school fees for my younger sister. Right now my mother is jobless and cannot afford to pay school fees for her hence she has just been at home. Boosting her with her school fees gives my sister an opportunity at education and to provide a better life for herself.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is praying to God because my mother has always taught me the need of prayers and the importance of spending time in the presence of the Lord. Without praying, I believe chances at survival are minimal because lots of problems come my way, I lack the knowledge of how to handle them and to crown it all no divine peace to push through each day.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is simply to be a salonist. This is so because I have skills in hairdressing and going by what I have heard, it pays well depending on ones hardwork. Through this job, I hope to achieve a good reputation that will build a name for myself, attract a huge client following which means more income and in return I will be able to open my own beauty parlour. With my own beauty salon, I will offer employment to other people especially from the ghetto area so that they too can improve their life in one way or another.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
My day normally begins with me grooming up, washing utensils, preparing breakfast and afterwards washing my daughter and younger sister. This is all my day entails since I dont have a job currently. My free time is mostly the rest of the day, which I spend making customized bracelets that are branded with ones name then sell them at fifty shilling each.