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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($468 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My initial goal was to use my transfer to build a new house since the one I had was relatively small. At the moment, I am in the process of building a new spacious house with two bedrooms. However, my additional goal is to venture in a business that deals with food since this would also be an avenue through which I shall be able to support my family. Last year, we did not have good harvest thus many families have been going through difficult times. With this business, my family and I will no longer have much struggle to obtain food.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my ioinion, GiveDirectly does so well in supporting the most needy people in my community. As a result of the transfer, many people from my community have managed to accomplish some of there long term goals within a short time. Personally, I am happy that I have a new house, and I have also attained what I did not know I could have achieved by now.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 48,000 from my most recent transfer to complete building a new house. I am almost moving into it this week. I am so glad that courtesy of GiveDirectly's transfer, I am now owning a new house. The rest of the transfer has helped me in starting up a new business handling food stuffs. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for positively impacting my life because as a result of the transfer, I shall be able run my own business.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($497 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
On this day, I was at home, relaxing. At 9 a.m, I received a message notification on my phone. I checked it and realized I had received the cash transfer I had been promised by GiveDirectly. I was full of joy because I knew my life was about to get better.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Seeing the new shop that I was able to build from this cash transfer warms my heart. I own a small business selling foodstuff. However, the shop I had before was in terrible condition. It was old and falling apart. I always wished to get some money so I could construct a decent place for my business.
This transfer enabled me to do just that. It has resulted in an increase in the number of customers and therefore an increase in profit. I cannot believe how wonderfully things have turned around for me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I run a small business where I sell foodstuff to earn a living. However, the building that housed my shop was old and run-down. So I was glad to receive this transfer. I spent KES 25,000 on building my new shop. Additionally, I spent KES 22,500 on the acquisition of five goats. These will supply our household with milk. We can then save the KES 60 a day that we used to spend on buying milk every day. And because my family's clothes were in tatters as we couldn't afford to replace them, I spent KES 7,000 on buying some new ones.
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means starting a business. This is because, currently I have no job and I depend on my husband who works as a motorist and earns $3 a day. This money is not enough to meet our basic needs like food on a daily basis. I have a family of one child and this child needs to go to school. However, this is very difficult due to financial instability. I intend to use the first cash transfer to smart a small hotel in the village which will cost me approximately $ 300. This will help me earn a living on a daily basis to meet most of the basic needs. I will then use the remaining amount of money to buy goats to start livestock farming as an investment for my children in future.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Morning is the happiest part of my day. This is because at this time, I wake up to prepare breakfast for my family as I see off my husband as he go out to work to get money for our daily survival. Seeing my family healthy at this time and ready to face the day brings joy to my heart.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Unemployment is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. With the COVID-19 pandemic that has destabilize the economy of Kenya, even getting casual jobs in the village is difficult due to lack of money. This has contributed to me being dependent on my husband who is a motorist. The little money that he gets is not sufficient to meet our basic needs and make savings for our future.
