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
53075 KES ($530 USD)
access_time over 5 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 it would have been if I never received the transfer since I enjoy significant income from the motorbike business. As a result, my family enjoys more services and products including sufficient food that we acquire using the funds that I collect from my work. Hence, I could still be languishing in poverty and the absence of a reliable source of income if not for GiveDirectly's financial boost.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does well in the way it transfers the money through the readily available provider - Safaricom's Mpesa. Accordingly, we could easily access and utilize our funds. Still, I like the fact that GiveDirectly offers total freedom to the recipient to choose what and how to spend their transfers on. To me, I do not find anything that GiveDirectly does not do well.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent 40000 KES of my second transfer on purchasing a second-hand motorbike that I am currently operating while offering taxi services at my neighborhood. Subsequently, I am gaining some reasonable income every day. Besides, I used 5000 KES on purchasing clothes for my family members. Still, I spent 5500 KES on buying sugar, maize, and tea leaves for my family. Moreover, I used 2500 KES on settling a loan that I had secured from a friend.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($548 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I am now self employed with my own business. This is the biggest difference in my daily life and I am happy about it. I used to be employed as a rider of motorcycle taxi, but now am I free doing my own work because I used part of the transfer I received from Give Directly as capital to start the baking business.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
First, I want to say thank you for Give Directly funds. We were so happy to receive the transfer. I got the text notification at the shopping center and I was pleasantly surprised . So the next day we went to withdraw the funds in as much as my wife was insisting that we withdraw the funds immediately because she was eager for us to have the funds in cash.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent the first Give Directly funds to buy a cow 15,500 KES and started a business of making snacks and selling them - a capital of 19000 KES on cooking pots, wheat flour, cooking oil, packaging materials. I also lease a vehicle at 300 KES each day to transport the snacks to retailers. I then set aside 10,000 KES for daily business expenses and spent the balance on clothes and food.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money is a good news to me, I am glad to be enrolled in the program and I am planning to spend my transfer to build a new house and to start a new business.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening, this is the time when I go home and I can provide food for my family.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is that I am a motorcycle rider and at times I go home with little money which is not enough to provide for my family needs.
