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?
My life has drastically changed, I can attend classes without being sent away due to school fees arrears like I used to before I started receiving my transfers. This has seen my performance improve because I spend more time in school and I really miss a lesson unless out of own will. Besides that, I am able to put aside some amount of money as savings that will help put up a shoes business in the near future.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
After paying my school fees, I am planning to start a shoes business to help generate more income for the purpose of household expenditure and savings for my future use.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received my recent transfer, I paid my school fees and the remaining amount I spent on household expenditure as well as paid my house rent. This has been my major struggle but thanks to GD I can attend all my classes.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($200 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goal is to go back to school and study Electrical Engineering. I have wanted to take this course since I was in Primary school.
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 now have a bed and a mattress. My living conditions have improved and my life has definitely changed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers to purchase house hold goods such as clothing, a bed and a mattress. I cleared high school in the year 2016 and I used to live with my mother until she lost her packaging job at a firm that used to export fresh vegetables abroad. My mother then moved to our rural home to concentrate on farming, while I was forced to find my own place here in Mathare. I have been surviving on casual jobs and construction jobs after I lacked school fees to proceed on with my education to college. I also lacked some basic house hold items such as a bed and a mattress as I did not make too much money from these jobs. I used to sleep on the floor on a very old tattered and thin mattress. I am very grateful to Give Directly that now my life is improving and I am living in better conditions now. I also spent part of the transfers to gift my mother some money for her own needs and utilities.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I had just woken up and I reached to my phone which I had left charging overnight. I saw the Mpesa message and the notifying message from Give Directly and I was very happy. I was expecting the transfers from Give Directly and it was a good moment to know that they had finally arrived. I withdrew the money the following day to purchase the items that I needed in my house.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Reason why I prioritize business to be my first priority, because it will boost my life, in that I will not depend on others so as to meet my daily needs, hence I will be dependent person second priority I will buy households goods where I will feel proud even to bring my friends in my house, third priority I would like to buy clothes at least to feel proud of myself.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is theft because one can loose his life in terms of mob justice or being shot by policemen or sometimes being jailed where no has no freedom.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition has always been, being a successful businessman, where I will have multiple of businesses across the country, this means that I will be dependent person.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
During my free time,I usually woke up at 8:00am, I pray by thanking God, then prepare my breakfast, after that I will clean my house then I will relax home by playing games and listening to the music and if there is no lights, I will go out and mingle with my friends till lights come.
