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.
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2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I own a restaurant making $7 a day. I have been saving some money to build a restaurant. In 2023 I vision myself with my new restaurant which is a dream come true.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly services are top-notch from the first time they visit us to their calls whenever we receive the transfers. I also like how the staff are kind.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I own a small restaurant in the village. My rent is $30 a month, it is quite expensive considering it is a small place that can only occupy five people. Most times I lose a lot of customers. Receiving this transfer has helped me a lot, bought a piece of land for $500 and I plan to build a restaurant that can accommodate up to fifty customers.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was at home when I heard a phone vibration from the table.I checked through the phone, it was almost 7 pm in the evening. I was preparing super for my three children while my husband was still at work. I perused through the messages and saw Mpesa alert of KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was overjoyed to an extent that I couldn't wait to break the good news to my husband . I informed my husband, who works as a chef at Mariakani in Kilifi, when he was back home. This brought a great smile on his face and you could notice his face glowing. We agreed as a family that we would withdraw the whole amount the following day without fail and start spending the transfer as we agreed.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am a mother of 3 working as a chef in Mariakani hotel as well as my husband. We have always desired to buy a plot so that we can rent it out and also do our business as chefs by starting a small hotel. If I never received the transfer, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to buy plot to help me achieve my goal of expanding my business territory and also rent part of it out. Paying for the plot was the greatest achievement of my life. I never knew I would one day own a plot. Thank you so much GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of 3 working as a chef in Mariakani hotel as well as my husband. We have always desired to buy a plot so that we can rent it out and also do our business as chefs. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to pay KES 30,000 for the plot still awaiting my next transfer so that I can clear the remaining balance of KES 20,000. Furthermore, I paid my elder son's fees of KES 5,000. This has enabled my son to attend his classes consistently without the fear of being sent back home. In addition, I bought a mattress worth KES 6,000 for my family. My children used to sleep in hard ragged clothes as mattress and a number of times they complained of backbone pains due to the uncomfortable beddings. Last but not least, I bought food for the family worth KES 9,000 which enabled my family to enjoy decent meal hence improved health greatly.
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Repairing my leaking roof is the first thing I will do immediately I receive the transfers from GiveDirectly. This will cost me a total of KES 40,000; that is the cost of materials plus labour. I will later use KES 20,000 to buy a new mattress for my children. They have been sleeping on sacks for long and I think this will be a relief for them. The balance will later cater for my children's school fees once they resume classes for their last term.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I have never been to a hospital over the past six months and this has brought joy and happiness in my life.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of a sustainable source of income to sustain my family of five has been the biggest challenge in my life. We have been relying on a food kiosk in the village that is no longer sustainable because of the fluctuations of food prices in my country meaning the profits we get are not amusing.
