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.
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($517 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
check
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is difference than it would have been if I never received money from GiveDirectly since I have acquires a solar panel that would have taken me five years or more to purchase. I have an intention of starting a barber shop and I intend to use this solar panel to serve as lighting and a source of heat for any electrical appliance which shall be used there. Meanwhile the solar lamp serves for lighting purposes in my household. Due to this, my children nowadays do their revision in the evening without any problems.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion , GiveDirectly did well through giving money that was very useful to prevent hunger in our society as the beneficiaries acquired food since it was a season of drought . I do not see what GiveDirectly did wrong at its work.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer to buy 30 pieces of iron sheets , nails. I intend to build a room for my children to sleep in. After the house has been completed and my children have moved in , they will always have a place to sleep in comfortably and do their revision without any disturbances.I bought food for my family's consumption. I also bought wires that were required to fix a solar lamp which I bought with the first transfer.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($541 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my life is the ability to be able to expand the shop business. I am so happy that I can now get a decent income daily. I started the business about 10 years ago but it had never grown to this lever. This is the highest success in business growth that I had always desired.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the money at around 4:00 am. I was still sleeping when the notification message came through. I have never been that happy. I didn't expect the message would come that day. It was a great surprise that starts seeing life from a different angle. The sun rose with lots of hope for a better life. I found other neighbors dancing. I remember joining them. We made merry the entire day. No one can ever understand the impact the message brought in my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent the money I received on stocking my shop business. I bought sugar, beans, and soap. I needed to increase the stock to maximize the profits from the business. The business is now doing great. I have really grown compared to the time when Give Directly had not come to my life. It is such a great relief because I can now comfortably meet my daily needs without struggling or even taking loans.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Since 2014, I have been operating a general shop business and I can say that it has helped me greatly in taking care of my family. However, since last year when our farm output started to be affected by recurrent drought seasons, the shop's income has been overstretched. This year alone we have depended on it so much such that I fear it is on the brink of collapsing. I have wished to revive it but to no avail. With this money I will spend ksh. 60,000 to buy stock. I will also take my wife for a tailoring course and then invest ksh.10,000 to purchase for her a sewing machine so that she can also earn extra income for our household.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I feel very happy in the evening while playing with my children. During the day so much of my time is spent in the shop or constructing houses when my wife is around to help and thus I have no time to spend with them during the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I am facing is handling debtors who take too long to pay for goods taken on credit from the shop.Since they are all related to me in one way or another because my business is located in the village, following them to claim for payment is very strenuous. At times it creates a lot of hostility since they are still my customers and I really wish for the situation to improve because the business location is very strategic and I am very sure it is capable of transforming my life if I incure no losses.
