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 over 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
With the great changes that have come to existence after receiving the transfer, I am grateful for the business I started and have already picked. So far is the biggest difference in my life that could not have been possible without the transfer. I am glad that I can look forward to a profit every time I open my business.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did us well by giving us a choice after sending us the transfer to choose how best we can use it. This unconditionality enabled every household to make decisions based on what they needed most. I have never seen anything to complain about so far as everyone has been happy and as we had been in our household.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Just after enrolling for the transfer, we had been planning as a household to start an income-generating project. With experience in hospitality after working in restaurants and clubs in the past years, I have mastered useful skills in selling all kinds of drinks. I saw it as a good idea to put the second transfer, in a small liquor shop investment which after obtaining all the licenses and permits I am currently running it. For the past few months, this has been earning us an appreciable revenue and I am glad that my family has never lacked since then.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time almost 4 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was 6:57 am and I was still in bed and my wife told me that she had heard a message on my phone. On checking it, it was the GiveDirectly transfers and I jumped out of bed and hugged her with a lot of joy in my heart. I then dashed to go ask my parents if they had received the transfer as well and they confirmed that they had.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My business which had flopped has picked up so well thanks to the GiveDirectly transfers and the festive season. There are a lot of customers coming to my entertainment joint and this has increased sales and profits. I also bought a cow and I look forward to the day I will be milking so that my children can have a taste of milk from our own cow.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used to have an entertainment business that was affected by Covid -19 restrictions. When I received the transfer, it helped me boost my business which is now doing well. I also bought a cow which is about to calf to help me and my children so that we do not buy milk forever.
Enrolled
access_time 4 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my family shall manage to purchase a bigger piece of arable land that supports agricultural practices. Currently, we own and live on 0.2 acres of land, hence, cannot practice agriculture due to lack of space. Precisely, my family shall enjoy a higher living standard because we will probably realize more yields and income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
As a business person who spends most of my day time interacting with clients, the happiest part of my day is in the evening when counting profits. This means the success and prosperity of my business.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have been aspiring to do crop farming for commercial purposes. Unfortunately, we do not have a reasonable size of land for the same. Besides, the little profits we get from our business is just enough to meet our basic needs, leaving one for leasing more land or accomplishing other tasks. Hence, the biggest hardship I have faced in life is the inadequacy of arable land.
