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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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($442 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently visit people's homes to plait their hair. My ambition is to open my own hair salon in Palakumi Center. A location where I can gradually expand my clientele and establish a reputation for quality work while also attracting walk-in clients. Hopefully, this will result in more income and support for my husband and children.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has inspired me. They have finally given me the opportunity to provide the assistance that my husband requires. He's been footing the majority of the bills for so long, and it felt good to be able to tell him I'll help and be able to do so. GiveDirectly gave me hope and the belief that things can change for the better overnight.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I decided to support my husband by contributing to his garage business. With some of the funds from GiveDirectly, I funneled capital to him to purchase some spare parts for when he has clients. I then prioritized purchasing a bed and mattress for myself as well as a mattress for the children, who already had a bed. We built a three-bedroom house with a lovely verandah here at Palakumi. a decent space to call our home and raise our two children. I plait hair for $0.04 or $0.05, with cornrows being the most popular style. That doesn't leave much to chip in on school fees of $69 at Palakumi Primary for PP2, nor for the needs of the 3 month old second born. As such,
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($473 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was busy preparing a meal for my children when I got the message from give directly. I was happy and excited. However, I kept calm and continued with what I was doing and then made sure the children had their meal. Afterward, I called my husband to inform him of the great news who advised me to spend the money wisely. His trust in me encouraged me to make the best out of the transfer. My very first thought was to invest in our garage business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have seen such a great difference in my life ever since I started receiving these funds from give directly. The garage business my husband and I run had very little equipment for its operation and there were times when clients would go unattended because of this. So, we got to buy more tools for the business, my child was also joining kindergarten, and the funds helped me buy her 5 pairs of uniforms, a school bag, and a pair of shoes.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I opened a garage business a while back. Since he is vaster with motorcycles, I opted to run a salon just next to it. We always worked to ensure that our children's needs were met. However, I went on maternity leave so I chose to close the salon. We lived in a two-room house. We would sleep in one room together with my four-year-old, while the other we would use as a storeroom. I, therefore, decided to use the funds to add a room for my child to sleep in. I then used KES 5000 to enroll him in school and I invested the remaining amount to our garage business
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means financial stability to this household. My husband is a mechanic, he operates a motorcycle garage. Due to lack of money, the garage is not fully operational. It lacks some of the necessary materials and inputs needed to repair motorbikes. This leads to a low income ( 300 KES per day). We plan to use the first transfer to purchase all the necessary inputs, especially spare parts. When the needed materials are available, my husband will be repairing more motorcycles which will translate to a higher income of approximately 1,000 KES per day. This amount will be enough to sustain us together with our 4 years old son. For the second transfer, I will use 15,000 KES to enroll in a beauty and cosmetics course.
What is the happiest part of your day?
We bought a piece of land ( a quarter an acre) in 2019 but we had not fully paid for it. We paid the last installment in September last year. I am now living peacefully without the fear of the land being repossessed.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Water scarcity is the challenge I am facing. Water availability has been a problem for years in this area. A 20-liter container goes for 30 KES. With a standard consumption rate of 5 containers a day, purchasing water is currently very expensive for me.
