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 only had a shoe business. This is because I did not have enough resources for starting the cloth business which I have now. The little profit I used to get on a daily basis, was for household needs, rent, fees and our daily upkeep. It was not even enough for our needs. When I started receiving these transfers, I started boosting the shoe business and right now I have cloth business too. The businesses too are stable courtesy of GD transfers. The fear of losing business is no more because they are doing fine.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My new goal is to start a new business especially fruit business. We are currently managing the same business but I feel we can have more resources when my wife manages a different business. this is why I have decided to start another business which my wife will manage as I manage the shoe and cloth business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on boosting my shoe and cloth businesses by adding more stock to the business. My desire is to have a stable business which will sustain my needs even in the future. The rest of the transfer I used on buying household items such as food for my family. The stock of food we had in the house had reduced and it was my desire to use the transfers on food than business resources for food. I am glad I got the money at the right time.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
8997 KES ($88 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I would still want to start a boutique business to boost my income. The little I get from my cloth business has been very helpful but I feel there is room for improvement by making my life better financially.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life because of the transfers is that I now have a business of my own. It is a very big financial step in my life since all my life I have always depended on casual work. I did not go to school hence I cannot read and write well. This is why I just had to do casual work to survive. Now that I have a business, I will not suffer as I used to because I have a source of income which will help me make my life better.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on boosting my cloth Business. I started the business with a month's transfers and the stock was not that much. I needed to boost it so that I could be able to earn more income in terms of the profit to help me sustain all my family financial needs well.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I have never received such an amount of money in my life. I am used to small amount of money I get from casual work. The moment I checked my phone and realised I had a notification about receiving money from GD, I felt good and knelt down to thank God for the miracle.
Enrolled
access_time 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I will invest in a boutique shop as well as open a salon business for my wife. I will open my business in Kosovo, Mathare where I will be selling shoes and clothes in general. I will be buying second hand shoes and clothes at Gikomba at cheaper price. There is a ready market due to high population and this will enable me to get alot of profit in return. I will also open a salon business for my wife to supplement our income and not to rely much on me.
Secondly, I would want to buy a house in Kosovo Mathare. I will be relieved from the pressure of paying rent monthly as I will want to reinvest in my business. Thirdly, I would want to save part of the transfers since I have children and I would want to support them in their education in future.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is my family because I have been unable to sustain them with their daily needs from the little income I get from construction sites. I rely so much in construction and at times there is no work and I am forced to go back home without money, and this stresses me alot knowing that my family will have to sleep hungry. I normally result to begging but not everyone is interested in helping me. Sometimes I fear that I may lose my family if I don't provide for their upkeep, pay rent or pay school fees for my children which will render me hopeless. I always live in fear that I may be thrown out of my house for failure of paying rent which may force me to relocate my family to upcountry or engage in criminal activities to make ends meet.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to become a construction engineer who will be constructing buildings in Nairobi. I see myself being able to seek contracts which will guarantee me a better life. I will be able to live a good life with my family, provide for their upkeep as well as give quality education to my children. I will eventually move my family out of slums and finally escape challenges that we face such as fire and disease outbreaks, drug abuse and crime. In the end I will be a happy man seeing my family live in a conducive environment and they are able to get their basic needs.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
On my usual day I wake up very early in the morning at 6:00am. I pray, take a shower, have breakfast with my family and then I embark on my work of construction in Kosovo, Mathare. I normally work until 4:00pm in the evening and then I go back home to take a shower then relax with my family. I normally go to church on Sunday's and in my free time I like to relax with my children in a nearby space as I watch them play football.
