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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($490 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?
Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, I do not rely on loans to take care of the primary and secondary needs. I have been able to boost my business and this intern has increase the profits that I get. On many occasions, I have found satisfaction in this business since I have never lacked anything or being in an awkward position of taking loans.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I want to concentrate on boosting my business. This business has enabled me to be stable, unlike before where I could rely on menial jobs which were unreliable. I normally take care of a larger burden of the household budget and this is why I am determined to reach this goal.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my transfer to boost my business. I have a shop which I worked so hard to establish. I could save the little amount that I got from menial jobs in the merry-go-round and finally brought this dream to a reality. I have been running it for a year now. I would not want it to collapse and this is the solemn reason why I used a large portion of it to boost it. I finally kept the remaining amount as savings.
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?
I am very grateful for GD for the transfers because through the transfers, my business is doing well. It has been my main source of income since I do not have any employment. It has helped me meet my needs in the house and because I have not been inputting more in the business, I started fearing the business would soon collapse. I am glad before that could happen, I got my first transfer from GD. I used the transfer to boost the business by buying more stock which has helped my business grow again in the last two months. I am glad the business is now doing well and the fear of losing the business is no more.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Currently, the only goal I have is to continue boosting business. I would want to invest as much as I can so that I can get a good profit from my business. The profit will be my income which will help me meet all my needs. I will still use part of my transfers to boost the business by adding more stock.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on savings in my bank account. My firstborn son will be joining primary school next year and I will need money to cater for his admission fees plus buying his school requirements. I have saved the money to help me through that come next year. The rest of the transfer I used on boosting my retail shop business. The business has not been doing well yet it is my only source of income. It will be the income from the business which will sustain my needs and even help me raise money to pay school fees for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($194 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
The new goal is to have a big business premise. The current one is squeezed and I am foreseeing restoking a lot of good which will need a lot of space. Taking care of customer needs means getting many customers which will translate to more income. This is what I what to work on.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is that I am a happy business lady because customers get all the items that they want. I managed to boost my business with the transfer and so far I can not complain. The sales have increased which has really helped me to handle my daily needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have been struggling for some time now to sustain my business but it was difficult due to lack of money. I normally run a Mpesa and a shop as well. When I received my transfer, I decided to use the whole of it in restocking my shop. This is the best idea so far because sales have increased which has really helped in taking care of my needs easily. I am a happy person because customers get every item that they need unlike before where most of the things were not available.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
The moment I received the transfer I felt very happy. I read the message at around six in the morning. Out of joy, I quickly told my husband the good news. The fact that the money was unconditional made me think of my business which was almost collapsing.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority is to boost my salon business, my shop and invest in my husband's Mpesa shop.I will buy more stock for the retail shop and expand the space since all three businesses are in the same premises. As for my salon business I want to buy a blow dry and add more stock of braids. Then finally I will add more float for the Mpesa business. By investing in these businesses my income will increase and I will be able to change my lifestyle.
My second plan is to use this transfer to help support my younger sister in her education. My siblings and I are required to each contribute for her education, but since I had no money for that I had distanced myself from the rest of the family. Now I am going to pay my part of the school fees and involve myself in family activities.
Lastly I want to go to school for a course in hairdressing. I earn some income from the hairdressing services I provide. The course will equip me with more skills and I will be able to provide other services other than just braiding my clients. After the course I will be confident enough to open a bigger salon and earn a better income from it.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is health crises because my mother has had health issues for long and it worries me a lot. My siblings and I spend a lot if money for her treatment of high blood pressure and ulcers. I also worry that she might die early because of these illnesses.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition in life is to own a business in hairdressing, I work for my husband as an Mpesa agent but it has been my dream to be self employed,to have multiple salons in Nairobi and provide quality services to my clients. I want to first go for a course in hairdressing and improve my skills. I am currently getting some income from the same business but I require some major skills to be able to call my self a great hairdresser. The skills I learn will enable me get more clients, find a wider market and in return get an increase in my income and support my mother and siblings in the rural area.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On my usual day I wake up, take a shower, prepare and take breakfast then do some house chores until around 10:30am. I then head to work here in Mradi Mathare and since my husbands Mpesa shop is at a walking distance from my house it takes me about 10 minutes to get there. I am an Mpesa agent so I spend the whole day at the shop attending to clients. The shop also supplements as a retail shop and a salon for me. It keeps me busy because am either attending to Mpesa clients ,selling other goods or braiding clients. I have specific customers for my hairdressing business, who are not many in number and that's why I don't have a separate salon space. I work here until 9:30pm then head home, cook dinner, watch TV then retire to bed.
During my free time I go to church then spend the after to on relaxing while watching TV or sleep till evening.
