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.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before the transfers, I used to live for the moment. I never had a dream of the future because I knew it would still be a struggle just like how life is now. I never saw a reason to look forward to the future. The struggles were too much. I could not provide fees for my children, in most cases, we would go with just a meal the whole day. I had failed my family financially. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have hope that the future will be bright especially with the savings that I have. I also find peace in my heart knowing every month I will be receiving money from GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I am still going to channel my transfers on saving. My plan is to use the savings to start a business so that I can have a reliable and stable source of income. Currently, I depend on income from casual work of garbage collection which also does not give much. I would want to use the opportunity given by GD to change my financial life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfers on savings in our SACCO. I joined the SACCO because I knew that is the best place to save. I have been doing the savings since I started receiving these transfers. I also used part of the transfer to buy food for the family. ever since I started receiving these transfers, I have always adapted the art of buying food once a month. It has brought a lot of difference in my financial life. The rest of the transfer, I used as fare to go and visit my parents as I had promised them.
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been living in the city for a very long time and had never thought of investing on cash crops as most of my relatives back at home do. This was mostly because of the lack of money to engage in such projects which are usually slightly costly to start. After I started receiving the transfers, I invested some on farming and will soon reap the benefits as I am assured of a readily available market. Other than the financial benefits that I am expecting, the transfers have also enabled me to take good care of my family by supplementing my monthly budget making it easy to pay the bills on time and afford other extra household requirements that would never be possible with my income alone.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I invested most of the transfers I received at the beginning of the project on some cash crops back in my rural home. Most of my relatives who live back there depend on those types of farming and they have been getting good money from the crops, which was the main reason I decided to invest in it because I am assured of good returns after a year. At the moment, I have done all that is necessary on the farm and now just waiting for the harvesting period hence have no other plans other than spending the transfers on household needs.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had not cleared my daughter's school fees for the year, so with part of the most recent transfer, I cleared the fee balance then spent the rest of the money on foodstuff and other household requirements.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 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 now different because currently, I am able to take care of my financial needs without struggling so much like I used to do. I have been making savings in a Sacco where I pledge that every month I save Kes 3000. I believe that by the time the transfers will come to an end, I will have a good sum in my account.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I have a plan of investing in an agricultural project back in my rural place. This is a project I believe will be able to generate a lot of money for me. My cousin has been doing the business for the last two years and so far I can say that he is doing well financially.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the cash on paying my Sacco savings contributions where I have been remitting a contribution of Kes 3000 every month. I remained with two thousand shillings that went into the payment of school fees for my child who had arrears of Kes 4500. I had to top up the arrears using my own money in order for the kid to be allowed to be in school on a fulltime basis without being sent away due to school fees arrears.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($49 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My goals now that I have started receiving the money is to start a business. I am planning to use a loan I will take in the Sacco after saving for time. I settled on starting a business where I will be selling second-hand clothes and shoes. This business is luxurious and I will not have to worry that my stock will go bad as the items I will be selling are not perishable goods.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments from GiveDirectly is that my self-esteem has improved unlike before. The fact that I will be able to start a business soon which will help me cater for my family needs on time always makes me so happy. This is because my children now see me as I do not care about their needs as they do not understand that I do not have enough money. I am now glad that soon all this will be history.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am planning to start a business and when I started receiving the cash from GiveDirectly, I took this as a chance to fulfill my dreams. Since the money was not enough for me to start this business, I decided to be saving them so that I can later use them. When I received my most recent transfer, I decided to save it in the Sacco and table banking group. I will later take a loan in Sacco after my savings will have accumulated and use the money to achieve my dream.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I felt so happy the moment I started receiving my money. This money gave me hope that I would one day be able to fulfill my dream of having a business.
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will first put this monies into agricultural use. I have a project upcountry that I would love to start of rearing chicken and setting up avwater source that will help me in farming. This is a very lucrative business in the upcountry area as seen from my neighbors who have established their homes and lead a very comfortable life with income generated from these agricultural activities. I also want to explore the same avenue and improve myself and the life of my family. Secondly, I would set up a butchery business at Huruma area. A digital butchery is very beneficial and generates lots of income going by the fact that it deals with food and food business can never go wrong. This to to broaden my channels of income flow that will enable me meet my needs and fulfill my responsibilities with ease. Lastly, I will pay for my children their school since it is part of my responsibility. This will be different because I will do it with much ease and on time and prevent my children from being sent away due to school fees reasons.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is daily sustenance because I fear failing to meet my family and self daily needs. According to me, I believe if you eat and meet your daily needs everything thing else that is material stuff is vanity. God always provide them as additional but it is a requirement to meet food, shelter and clothing which is my responsibility.
What are your greatest ambitions?
In life, I want to be a successful businessman. This is driven by the inspiration of being my own boss because I find employment boring and time consuming as it restricts me to working for someone, helping them realise their dreams and it isn't flexible to allow me run my side business and maximise on income generation.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
My normal day begins with me grooming up, taking breakfast and leaving for work. I work at PCEA Church in Eastleigh as a youth coordinator. I plan my work for the day since my job involve lots of planning and scheduling my daily routine. Since my work is self supervisory, i run to check if my employees has opened up my businesses. I run two businesses of pool table and Mpesa business. I return home to eat supper and go to bed. When i am free, sometimes i browse alot or go watch football at a video place.
