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.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was going about my usual day, managing my small kiosk, when suddenly my phone buzzed. I glanced down, and there it was—a message notifying me that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with joy and immediately shared the exciting news with my wife. We had already talked about what to do if we ever got such support, and the plan was to improve our house. You see, whenever it rains, our home floods badly, causing all kinds of problems.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference I've seen since receiving the unconditional cash from GiveDirectly is how much I've been able to boost my business. I'm a lot busier now than I was before, and it's been a good change. With the profits I’ve made, which is about $2 from both my shop and small restaurant, I’ve been able to invest in planting half an acre of watermelon. This has given me even more potential for growth. Most importantly, my three children are now constantly in school, unlike before when they used to get sent home for lack of fees. It's a huge relief to know they're getting an uninterrupted education.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I run a kiosk where I used to sell only sugar and soap, starting at just $6.3. With the transfer, I added more stock, and now my business is growing. I used $50 to bring in more items for sale, and my daily sales have improved from $8 to $20. This has helped me expand the business, and I’m now able to meet more customer demands. I also wanted to make sure that I invested in something long-term. So, I used $150 to buy two goats. I see this as a form of saving because goats multiply quickly, and I already have one new kid. This will provide extra income for my family in the future, without spending the money right away on things like house renovations, that I had initially planned to do. I know that once the goats multiply, I'll be able to sell some and generate even more income.
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access_time 4 months ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
To safeguard my family from the effects of the floods in future, I plan to allocate KES 15,000 towards relocating and reconstructing our house in a higher, safer location within our compound.
To make my land productive, I intend to invest KES 30,000 in purchasing necessary farm inputs such as tilling services, seeds, fertilizer, chemicals, and fuel.
Furthermore, to ensure sustainable income for my family, I will use KES 65,000 to expand my business. This investment will include constructing a small structure and purchasing sufficient stock. The increased profitability from the business will provide essential food and funds for purchasing other necessities for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Starting my small business brought me immense joy. It has fulfilled my prayers for an opportunity to sustain my family and generate income. Thanks to the business, we now have reliable access to food, clothing, and other essential needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I'm facing challenges in expanding my newly started small business in the village. Selling goods in the open air leads to spoilage since i lack the resources to build a structure.
Additionally, seeing my one-acre farming land unused gives me stress; I wanted to plant watermelon but could not due to financial constraints. Moreover, after experiencing flood damage to my home, I intended to relocate it to higher ground within the compound, but financial limitations prevent me from doing so.
