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.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The transfers motivated and materialized my long-term dream of poultry farming. For the past three months, I have solely used my transfers to support this venture. I bought six chicks worth KES 1500, chicken feed for KES 4000, and insecticides at KES 500. I saved the remaining money, KES 3000, which I aim to either channel towards a piece of land or a cow. I am immensely excited that the chicken project is progressing well and serving as a significant income source.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a wine Tapper and I barely make enough to cater for my family of three members. I had researched on starting a chicken rearing business .My first transfer was my capital and I started with 10 chicken which I bought for kshs 2000 and bought chicken feed for kshs 1000 but within afew days I lost 2 chicken.The second transfer came and I bought 6 more chicken for kshs 1500 and chicken medicine to prevent them from dying.The third transfer came and I bought chicken feed and more medicine and I was left with kshs 1500 which am saving to buy more chicken this month .
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am very grateful to GiveDirectly because it gave me the proper financial push in order to start and grow my business which will serve me well even in the future so I am more than thankful to this organization for the tremendous help it has offered and will keep offering consequently helping me be sustainable.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the first transfers I encouraged myself to start a business with the money and with the funds that I received I saw the best business venture would be poultry farming so I went ahead and bought ten chicks but unfortunately three fell sick and died and I was left with seven . After the second transfer came my plan was still the same and therefore I bought eight chicks each at KES 200 which cost me a total of KES 1,600. As for the rest of the money I bought chicken feed so that the chicks would have something to eat that would help them grow stronger which cost KES 1,400.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
3050 KES ($27 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was definitely excited because my profession is a palm wine tapper and that is how I provide for my family. But having another way to earn money would be good because I could sustain my family way better and not forgetting my job is perilous at times and does not earn that much money. In short I celebrated the fact that my project could now begin.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
That would ultimately be the fact that I managed to get capital and venture into the poultry business. This is because I had been thinking of it for longest time possible and finally an opportunity had presented itself, so my new business has added a great advantage to me and my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest I have had plans to establish my own business so after receiving the money I decided to venture into the poultry business. I chose poultry business because it if fast growing since the chicks grow quickly if they are fed right and this meant if did it for commercial use then the income would come back fast as well. Therefore I bought ten chicks that I plan to rear which cost me two thousand five hundred kenyan shillings and added an extra five hundred kenyan shillings for the chicken feed.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Every moment I am alone, I imagine being surrounded by a huge flock of chickens. It would please my heart to be the renowned village supplier of eggs and chicken. With the GiveDirectly transfers, I can almost see myself flourishing in this business. Constructing a spacious chicken pen will be the priority from the first transfer. I will then commit 2000 KES every month to purchase more chicks, feeds, and medication. I look forward to when the business will be meeting all my financial needs, then I will abandon my current occupation as a palm wine tapper.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Tending to my chicken every morning gives me unexplainable joy. It may seem weird but I cherish them so much because they contribute greatly to my livelihood.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My family operates on a budget of 100 KES every day. It would have been different if I had an income that I can boast of. Tapping palm wine is both risky and cumbersome yet the yield is low. One can never be secure if the yield will improve across seasons, it’s just unpredictable. My average earning is usually300 KES a day, an amount that is too little to cater for all our needs.
