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 ($492 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been because I managed to start a clothing business. Previously, I used to depend on the odd jobs with a meager income, and in a day I used to earn KES 100, and sometimes go without. Therefore proving for my family was a great challenge. Most of the days we could skip meals and sometimes my children missing school because of the balance of the fees. However, I am now glad because, through the business, I can acquire a profit of KES 1500 in a day. This has enabled me to meet y household needs with ease and even plan for other fruitful projects. Also, the dairy cows that I own have brought an impact on my life because I no longer buy milk like before, and I also sell a few liters to my neighbors which is an additional income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is such a unique organization becasue ever since I was born I have never come across any organization which gives out unconditional money which is non-refundable. The entire village has now changed and this is evident through the livestock that most of on which still feels like a dream to us. Also, the beautiful houses whereby back in the days they were just temporary huts. On the other hand, GiveDirectly has not done anything wrong.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent a huge part of my second transfer on buying livestock more so two dairy cows at KES 30000. These have been the well thoughtful assets that I have been yarning to won for quite some time and I can't express my joy after buying them because I am certain I will achieve a lot through them. To add to that, I started a clothing business and I am ambitious this business will bring an impact into my life considering no one has a similar business in my village.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($493 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message in my phone early in the morning when I was already up providing taxi services using my motorbike. When I checked the contents of the message, I had received my first transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt happy and thanked GiveDirectly for the financial support.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was operating a shop that had been my only source of income in our village for a long time. However, I was forced to shut it down due to inadequate finance to run it and the never-ending family needs. I ventured into providing taxi services using a motorbike so as to save money to revive it. The income was still not enough to revive my business. As at now, my business is back to life because when I received the transfer, I purchased enough stock of different products to serve my clients. I am expecting to get a good income from it which will help me to provide adequately for my family. Reviving this business is an additional source of income and so far makes the biggest difference in my daily life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40000 of my first transfer to revive my shop which I had closed down due to inadequate capital to operate it. I ventured into providing taxi services so as to save enough money to revive it, but it was not enough compared to the vast family needs. I lost hope of bringing my business to life again until GiveDirectly visited me. When I received the transfer, I purchased enough stock of different products to serve my clients. I am expecting to get a good profit to expand and also take care of my family's needs. I spent the remaining amount to do a shopping for my family. I bought clothes for my children and also enough foodstuffs that will take us for weeks.
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Expanding my second-hand clothes business is basically what receiving this money means to me. At the moment, my wife is engaged in the selling of clothes but this business has not picked well. I have wished to expand it but due to the financial crisis, my desire has never materialized and I was worried that it will collapse. I am now a happy person knowing that soon I will add a stock of $300 which will assure me of high profit and eventually a stable income. On the other hand, I also plan to buy a wooden bed plus a mattress for $150 to change my beddings since the ones I currently use are rugged and the bed is made of ropes. This will guarantee me a better livelihood since I will be enjoying my sleep.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I spend the better part of my day doing my motorcycle taxi work, a job that requires me to be at the stage from morning until in the evening. I only come home in the evening when I am fully exhausted. Although tired, it is at this time when I get ample time to relax and be able to take my dinner and sleep. The resting re-energizes and keep me ready for the next day's work and hence, the evening becomes the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I work as a motorcycle taxi rider commonly dubbed as "bodaboda" in our area and this job earns me very little such that, it can not fully sustain my family's basic needs. My wife's work of selling second-hand clothes is also not reliable since the clothes she is selling is out of fashion and they can not attract customers. This has made our life so difficult since our combined income is still low and I have always felt that, the lack f a reliable source of income is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced.
