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 currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different from how it would have been four months ago in that I have savings. I have never at a given time in my life had savings because of my low income from small foodstuff business. The little I used to get on a daily basis would be used up on our daily needs. As a result of GD transfers, I had a plan of starting a more profiting business and therefore decided to save my transfers so that I can get a good capital to start the business. I am glad I am in the right direction because of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a goal of saving the transfers so that I can get capital to start a second-hand cloth business. I would want to have a stable source of income through the business because I cannot get any employment now. This is why I have chosen to save to start a business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a new house. I have been living in a grass thatched house and I needed to upgrade to a more modern and iron-roofed house. Since I did not have the resources to build one, I had to put up in the one I had until I started receiving the transfers. I saved for some months and when I had the amount I needed, I used the money to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails. The materials were used in putting up an iron-roofed house which has been my dream. Thanks to GD for the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life will change in the next six months in that I will have started the second-hand cloth business which I have been saving for. The business I have now is not doing well because of the perishable good I have and I would want to have a business with goods which can go for days without preservation.
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different because we have built a new house for our family. Initially, we used to live in a small grass-thatched house which used to leak excessively whenever it rained but things are different today because I live under this iron sheet roof which gives me every comfort I may need.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal right now is to start a small scale business of buying and selling second-hand clothes from Nairobi. I only need to save some little cash which I am going to start within the near future. This is a business that can easily sustain me going into the future even post the dates when the transfers will have been stopped.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I have been able to support my husband financially because right now I am able to save some cash at the beginning of every month which makes life much easier for both of us.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change a lot because I plan to save my transfers as much as possible so that I can venture into another business of selling charcoal on a large scale. This is a business that I have tried operating in the past so I know that once I launch it then things will flow as I expect.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that, l have manage to join merry go round where l am very sure l will achieve my dream of starting my business, which l could not have done without GD. Anytime l received the transfer l always buy enough maize that allow us to have our meal for a prieod of time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have started my business of selling second hand clothes and supporting my spouse in household expenditure.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because it is very rare in for us to miss a meal as compared to before.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to save and start my business of selling second hand clothes.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is extreme poverty that made me drop out of school and married off at an early age.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I take some breakfast before heading to the farm.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend the transfer in construction of a new house since my current house is leaking.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement in life is offering casual labor to neaby farms and bought clothes. I feel happy and courageous to associate with others because I look decent.