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
55000 KES ($457 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My eldest daughter is about to complete her tailoring college in September this year. The goal I have is to start a tailoring shop for her at one of the shops in the market after school. I intend to purchase a sewing machine and a variety of linen for her to start the business. The income from this activity will supplement my earnings from the kiosk something that will help in transforming our lives for the better.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well for enrolling every households in our commounity. Furthermore, the time frame from the enrollment to the receipts of the first transfer was reasonable and gives us ample time to align with family members on spending of the cash.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had desired to boost my kiosk business where I sell maize flour. After receiving the transfer, I invested KES 15,000 into it by purchasing more stock. Currently, I have a stock of more than 20 bales of maize flour which is enough to last for two weeks. This can earn me a profit of KES 3000 for the two weeks. The income can comfortably assist me in educating our 8 children as well as cater for other needs like food something that has reduced the burden of providing for the family. Furthermore, I spent the remaining amount to construct a two-roomed rental shop at our nearby market with an intention to relocate my business to a better area where I would get more customers.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Being a housewife, my day starts by going to the dam to fetch water for the family's consumption. I had just woken up and prepared to start my daily routine with some relatives and my daughter to collect water. It was around 6 am when I received the message alert on my phone indicating that I had received the transfer from GiveDirectly. I felt extremely happy for receiving my transfer which would transform our lives for the better. I called my spouse to come home for planning on how to use the transfer before we could cash it out.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being able to boost my business by purchasing more stocks is the biggest difference in my daily life. Currently, my income had increased by 5 % something that makes my life easier since I am able to meet most of the basic needs without much problem using my income from my job.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I operate a small kiosk at home where I sell some food products like maize flour, sugar, and salts. The transfer that I received was a great boost to my business. I spent KES 10,000 to improve my business by purchasing more stocks for the kiosk. In addition, I used KES 20,000 to purchase one ox which I am intending to train it to assist me in ploughing my farm. Previously, I was using hands to plough which was very tiresome with low harvest resulting in food insecurity. Sometimes I was hiring a pair of oxen from my relative but then they all died due to the drought conditions. Furthermore, I used KES 7000 to clear the fee arrears for my 5 children who are still schooling. The remaining amount assisted me in purchasing sufficient food for the family.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have four children in school including one in college. I have been struggling a lot to pay their school fees because of limited income. Receiving this money will be a big boost. I will spend 20,000 KES on school fees because my desire has been to see my children study. I did not get that opportunity myself. I lost 3 cows during last year's drought. My plan is to buy one heifer so that I can replace what I lost and start all over again.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Last year in the month of May, I started a small business of selling maize flour within my compound. It was just giving it a try but the business is now picking up. I plan to add more items and maybe open a shop in future. I am glad that I now have an alternative source of income.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenges I am facing are caused by the frequent droughts in the region. There is shortage of food in my household because it's been years now without having a good harvest. I lost three cows during the drought. I am now left with one. Cattle keeping used to earn me income sometime back but this is now not the case. I struggle a lot in paying school fees and buying food because I no longer depend on farming.
