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
55000 KES ($462 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Apparently, I do not have any other new goal except to continue with the finalization of the house and ensuring that our businesses are up and running. I do sell vegetables and my husband is a motorcycle taaxi driver
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly did very well was to explain the program well so we understood why we are getting the money hence no one has any doubt whatever with the program. I do not have any thing that I can pin point that did not go well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Since I had started building a house but only managed to have two bedrooms in it due to inadequacy of funds, my desire was to have the third room for my visitors. Indeed with the second transfer I managed to finish building the third room. Thanks so much GiveDirectly, I am super happy and more comfortable when my visitors are around. To make ends meet, I have been operating a grocery business whereas my hubby do ferry people with a motorcycle at a fee. Indeed, this businesses have been very instrumental to our family of four. Furthermore, it is from the proceeds from the same activities that assisted as far as having piped water is concerned. Before, we would rely upon the kindness of our neighbours to enjoy this precious necessity. Courtesy of GiveDirectly financial generosity we not only have sufficient water for our home consumption but also for commercial use.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($477 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning around 7am when I heard message notification from my phone. Since I was busy, I didn't rush to check it out because I never thought I could be the transfers message. After I was done, I checked it only to find out that I had received the transfers. It such a joyful moment for me and I couldn't wait for my husband to get back home so that I can tell him the great news.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Our income has increased compered to previous days when we has limited stock in our shop and we are able to pay our bills comfortably.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband and I own a general shop and he has been the shop keeper. Before COVID-19, the business was booming and we were able to provide for our two children comfortably. Due to COVID-19 crisis, the business went down and it's been a struggle to revive it because we don't have any other source of income. Many are times when we almost gave up because we would run out of stock and there would be no money to add new one and this kept away majority of our customers. Being enrolled in the program was the greatest opportunity in our lives because we knew this was going to save our business and get us back to our feet. I spend KES 30,000 to add more stock to our business and I'm planning to spend the balance on buying iron sheets since we are planning to add a room to our main house so that we can have enough shared space wit our two kids.we are grateful to GiveDirectly for saving our business.
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am a business woman with an ambition of expanding my business to be a bigger business. I have a family of 4 people of which 2 are my young children.. I am operating a shop business with a stock of 7000 KES and I depend on this business for all our domestic needs in the house. I have potential customers which I cannot serve them to the maximum capacity because my Capital is small and we have to restock every day. Receiving this money means I will fulfill my ambition of being a bigger business woman because we will be putting enough stock in our business which can serve our customers and hence get a huge profit and live a better life than this.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband got a casual job of cutting logs in our neighbors farm last month and he was recently paid his wages of 9000 KES . We used 5000 KES to add stock to our business, 2000 KES bought clothes for my children and 2000 KES paid school fees for my first son who is in class 4. This brought Joy and happiness in my life because it relieved the burden of school fees and also I added stock to my business.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I have no enough Capital for my business .I am using the resources from my business for domestic needs and therefore very hard for my business to grow. The distance I go to get my stock is big and therefore it needs to stock my shop once in a week so that I can cut down the cost of going to the same place every day using a motorcycle.
