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 ($433 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?
With my first transfer, I was to set up a small business where I sell potatoes fries and smokies. I'm so happy that the business is picking up well and I am looking forward to expand it to a local restaurant next year. This will mean that I will be earning more income and I will be able to pay school fees for my children and provide other basic needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does well is transforming life of many people in the society through giving unconditional cash transfers. Personally my live and that of my family have changed completely for good and I cant imagine the impact on a million others that you serve.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living in a single room with my wife and two children is not something that we enjoyed. We yearned for our privacy and a bigger shared but due to financial constrains we were not able build a bigger house as both my wife and I are peasant farmers. We also used a small solar lamp which did not offer us sufficient light in the house. When I was being enrolled in the program, building a better house and connecting it to electricity was one of my major goals and thankfully, I was able to achieve that with my second transfers. I was able to another room for my kids and I could not be more happier that everyone in the house have their own privacy noe and we enjoy electricity shinning up on our heads.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($467 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 on my way back home from seeing some of my relatives when I received a text message. I decided to stop and check its contents thinking that it was my spouse who wanted me to buy some items to take home. To my surprise, it was a Mpesa message indicating that GiveDirectly had sent the promised money. I became so happy after reading it and smiled knowing that my wife would soon be engaged throughout the day after using the transfer to start up a usiness for her.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There's been a change in our daily income ever since we received our first transfer. This is because we were able to start a small business that my wife operates. Even though it has not picked well, I believe that the profits that we will be making in a day will increase as time goes by. Currently, my wife has been able to support me in paying for some of our bills unlike before when I was the sole breadwinner of the family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my recent transfer, I used KES 12000 to connect electricity to my house. We decided on this as a family for lighting purposes since buying paraffin has proven a challenge due to the increase in prices. Also, I spent KES 22000 to start a small business of selling smokies in our nearest trading center. Since my spouse has been a stay-at-home mother, this business gave her an opportunity to earn some income daily since she is the one operating it in the evening. Aside from this, I used KES 6000 to pay school fees for my younger brother and spent the remaining amount on food and clothes. I am a motorcycle rider and I am glad that GiveDiurectly gave us an opportunity to diversify our sources of income.
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We have been struggling in vain to improve our kitchen since my little income ( about KES 400 daily from my motorcycle business) is just enough to meet our basic needs. We are currently using a temporary kitchen whose walls and roof are made of torn iron sheets. So, we shall use KES 20, 000 of the transfer on improving the kitchen by installing new iron sheets. Subsequently, my wife shall be happy to have a decent kitchen.
What is the happiest part of your day?
About three weeks ago, I opened a food kiosk on my compound (we are adjacent to a shopping center). This has brought us joy and hope for a better future once the business flourishes.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The main challenge that we are facing as a family is a low income from my motorcycle business. I think the economic inflation in our country (Kenya) has made it tough for citizens to meet their basic needs. I have lost customers since some have chosen to walk rather than use my motorcycle. As such, I am worried about the future of my business of offering motorcycle taxi services.
