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
53010 KES ($392 USD)
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?
Although businesses have been affected by the harsh Kenyan economy, I have not lost hope, for I look forward to each new profit day. My plan is to use the profits from the mobile money business and retail shop to expand both businesses and therefore earn more income to support my family of four. At the moment, the businesses collectively earn the household $50 a month, which caters to food, education, and clothing. In addition, I plan on initiating a poultry farm since the warm climate here is favorable for such, and therefore the birds will thrive and earn the family more income.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The unconditionality and nonpayment of the transfers fascinate me. This gives one room to decide to spend the transfers without the fear of having to return the money since it is not a loan but a grant. Additionally, the field staff are respectful and not discriminatory by any means, as they consider all the villagers equal. At the moment, I have not seen any weakness in the organization, and I wish them to continue with their way of working.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since farming cannot thrive well in this area, I opted to engage in business to support my family of four. Currently, I run a retail shop and a Mobile money shop, through which I collectively earn a profit of $50 monthly. It is through this that families have gotten food, shelter, education, and clothing. I am also a landlord, as I have 4 rental houses that earn the household $20 each month. To maintain this business, I spent $300 of the transfers on renovating the rental houses and an additional $150 on boosting the Mobile money shop. I am happy to have also used the rest of the transfers on clothing, education, and food for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($442 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was in the evening at around 3 pm when I was out of my home visiting my mum when my phone received a message from GiveDirectly. I quickly checked my phone and, to my utter delight, confirmed that I had received my first transfer of $550. I was overjoyed for the support that GiveDirectly accorded me knowing that the money was going to change my life positively.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before the transfer, my business was not stable. Due to a lack of enough capital, I could not keep most of the things my customers needed. This made them lose trust in my shop and some were even moved to other shops. Currently, I am very happy because, through the transfer, I was able to equip my shop so that customers came back and they are happy to get almost everything they require from my shop. This trust has enabled me to get more profit because the customers are coming in large numbers. I am grateful to GiveDirectly because it empowered me to provide for my family without straining.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the money, I opted to add some stock worth $200 to my shop where I sell a variety of items both foodstuff and personal effects. I took this decision to stabilize my shop which has been a backbone for my family in matters of sustaining the family's basic needs. Since I had started a project of building a rental house and the perimeter wall was complete, I used $300 to do the roofing part. I opted for this kind of investment because rental houses are long-term investments and do not disappoint in terms of income generation when well managed. For the remaining $40, I bought some food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I have a shop business running with a capital of $200. Inflation has affected the business because many customers buy on credit. This has made me unable to stock some important items that are needed in the community. I will use $400 to boost my business by adding stock. Currently, I make a profit of $30 per month and I hope it will grow to around $50 per month when I add the stock. I have a wider market since I am the only person having a shop business in the community. I also have a cousin brother who is a total orphan and he is at Mariakani secondary school. I will use $100 to pay school fees for him so that he can stay at school all the time. He gets support from well-wishers. I also have an idea of diversifying the business by starting a broiler chicken business. I will use $100 for the purchase of the chickens, $50 to buy the feeds, and $150 to build the poultry house. This program will help me improve my living standard. I have a family of four and my husband works with logistic companies in Mombasa.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I am a Christian by religion together with my family. We fellowship at Mangudho baptism church. The church is a muddy building and in this year we agreed to build a permanent building with blocks. My husband works at Mombasa and I shared to him the church plans early this year. He has been very resistant in terms of supporting the project financially. Two weeks ago out of his on will , he sent me $70 to buy 8tonnes of sand soil for the church construction. That act brought happiness to me and the entire church congregation.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have shop businesses selling variety of shop items. I started with a capital of $5 on January 2022. It has grown well such that I am now having a capital of $200. The business has had a challenge of debt defaulters in the past one month. I have customers who have been taking items on credit and currently, I have around $100 that I will never recover from the defaulter. That is the challenge I am currently facing.
