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 ($517 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I did not have a good house to live in. My old house was in a very bad state but I couldn't even renovate it. I am happy that I have a new house to live in with my family. I was also operating a business which was not doing well. The money helped me to buy more stock of goods for this shop. Its now doing well and getting a good and increased profit unlike before. I can now fulfill my own basic needs with ease through this income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
We were enrolled as we had expected, there are no complaints and the transfer has uplifted our lives so far. We have managed to build new houses and taking our children to school. I do not see anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent KES 12000 of the second transfer on buying four goats. I am currently keeping them and I know they will reproduce and increase in number. Through them, I am hoping to educate my children through it. In addition to this, I also managed to build a new house. I purchased enough building materials that include iron sheets, building poles and timber and to facilitate the construction of the new house. I am happily living in my new iron roofed house. I spent the remaining amount on buying foodstuffs and other household needs.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($543 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I used to pay for rent on the premises where I was running my business. My ambition was to one day build my own premise so as to avoid the monthly rental costs that I was incurring. This would have taken me a long time to save for the purpose of relocating to another place. Through the support from GiveDirectly, I was able to build my own business premise. The transfer also enabled me to purchase more stock to sell. This cost me KES 40,000 that I am currently running in my home of the transfer I received from GiveDirectly. To me, having my own shop premise where I will no longer be paying rent is the biggest difference in my daily life
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was woken by a message notification on my phone on a Tuesday at 12:28 am. I was curious to know who could have sent me a message at such an hour. When I went through the message, I realized that it was from GiveDirectly informing me that I had finally received my first transfer. I was greatly overjoyed especially on the thought that this transfer would enable me to improve my business for better profits.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When GiveDirectly came to our village, I was operating just a small shop in our home town which was the only source of income that I had. I had also rented the shop premise. As a businessman, my desire has been to expand this shop by selling diversified products that would increase my profits. Also, having my own premises was in my mind as an initiative that would cut off the monthly rent expenses. These were all my plans which were only fulfilled when I received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. On receiving my first transfer, I bought stock worth KES 20000 so as to enable me to run the business effectively so to earn better profits. I am also happy since, through the transfer, I was able to buy building materials for the construction of my own premise. I relocated once it was complete and as at now, I do not incur any rent. I spent the rest o the transfer to purchase five goats that I am rearing at home. I know once they mature and reproduce, I will be able to sell to meet my financial needs.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means financial break through for my family and restoration of my self worth and pride before the society. Ever since I underwent an unsuccessful kidney operation eight years ago,I have been rendered useless and incapable of doing strenuous jobs to get money to take care of my family. I have had to contend with relying on relatives for support and this has not been very helpful. For a long time, I have wished to revive my shop business that collapsed when I use all the capital to facilitate my operation because I know it will not be too strenuous to manage, but I have not been able to due to limited finances. So many in the society look down on me as the man who is not able to take care of his family and this pains me a lot because it is not by my doing. However,with this money, I see a chance of realizing my dream because I already have the experience,site and now even the finances to set up the shop within my village. After a very long time,I will finally be able to earn my money and also gain independence from relying on my relatives thus gaining back my self respect and worth.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Due to my poor health condition,I spend most of the day at home all alone when my son goes to school and the rest of my relatives go to work. Since I am not able of doing any heavy duty jobs,I tend to while away time by cleaning my compound or just resting under my tree shade. This gets awfully lonely that by the time my son gets back from school in the evening, I feel extremely happy because I finally get someone to talk too and help me around the house. He has been my only source of joy ever since my wife left with two of his siblings thus seeing him doing his best to also take care of me,fills my heart with so much joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Poor state of health is the biggest hardship that I face in life. For the past eight years,I have been forced to live in pain after an unsuccessful kidney operation. As a consequence, I have been rendered helpless and incapable of performing heavy duty jobs. Due to deficiency of jobs to engage in, my source of income greatly dwindled and my wife not being able to cope with the situation any longer,ended up abandoning me and taking with her two of my daughters. As if that was not enough,eight months ago,while working as a cook in a school,hot water for cooking "ugali" accidentally poured on me severely burning my stomach region. The wounds have refused to heal and as a result,I am once again in a position whereby I cannot go to work to take care of my son who my wife left behind. I feel so frustrated because even my relatives seem to be getting tired of supporting me. I am hardly capable of renovating my house whose rooftop was blown away by heavy winds let alone feed my son and pay for his schooling.
