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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3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, my life is different in the I have been able to start a second-hand cloth business selling in the countryside. The profit from this business has enabled me to settle most of the debt and also provide for my family with no much struggles. My closest neighbours are really perplexed with the extreme change of lifestyle because they used to look down upon me as they perceived me to be a failure. My gratitude goes to GiveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I have always treasured education and because of my parent's meagre income, I didn't have the opportunity to go to college. My new goal is to save for my college education. I believe through completing college I will be able to get employed and provide for my family with ease.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Before GiveDirectly I used to depend on community jobs to support my family members and the income was meagre that I couldn't sustain my family's needs with ease. It reached a point where I was almost breaking down because I had debt here and there which I had failed to pay hence they would owe me using threats. I am yet to spent my recent transfer to enrol in a teaching course worth 40,000 KES. I believe through completing this course I will be able to get employed and assist my family with the provision of the basic needs. The remaining amount of money I paid school fees for my children and bought household items.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($368 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is much better after receiving the transfer unlike before. I have a reliable source if income unlike before. When I received the transfers, I spared KES 5000 to boost my second-hand clothes business. The transfers came in handy as my business was on the verge of collapsing. The proceeds were minimal and meeting my family's needs was a tall order. At the moment my business is bigger and better. I make more profit that is enough to meet m,y family's needs and even extra that goes towards my savings. I am happy and even motivated to pursue my dreams.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
Joining teachers college is one aspiration that the transfers fuelled it. I Completed secondary school four years ago with very good grades. I have never had the chance to pursue my dream of becoming a teacher due to the financial situation I have been in for a while now. The transfers will enable me to pay my college fees.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 5000 of the transfers on expanding my second-hand clothes business. I saved KES 10,000 which I am intending to pay college fees with. I used KES 10,000 to pay school fees for my son and sister in secondary. I then paid rent of KES 6000, it had accrued for 2 months. I then saved KES 5000 through savings through table banking. The remaining KES 1800 went towards buying food items for my family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($195 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have always wanted to be an Early Childhood Education Teacher, but because of lack of funds, I have not been able to take a professional course on this. My love for children has led me to become a Sunday school teacher at my church and my pastor has always encouraged me to pursue my teaching passion whenever I can and he will always support me. I will use part of the money GD will send me to enrol into college and the rest of the fees will be taken care of by my church. I will spend the rest of it on improving my business by renting a store and bringing in more stock to enable me make more profits to take care of my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Before I received the money, I was so weak and sickly due to excess stress which was caused by lack of money which led me into too much debts. I was always worried about how I would raise the money to repay them and to even take care of my family because my business was not doing well at all. Since the money came, I have been able to have a great deal of peace in my life and even most of my friends have noticed the difference. If the money hadn't come at that particular time, I might have been in the hospital by now.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the money, I had not paid my rent for the last three months and was on the verge of being kicked out of my rental house. The first thing I did was to clear the rent then sent part of the money to my children's school to pay part of their school fees balance. I could not pay the whole amount as I had other pressing needs at the time. I sell clothes for a living and lately, business has not been so good, so I decided to purchase more stock which I sent to my sister in Kisumu to sell for me. I saved the rest of the money in our table-banking group to avoid unnecessary expenditure.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was so excited when I received the money because it came at a time I was broke and had lots of debt which I had no idea how I would repay. I was about to be thrown out of my house due to delayed rent payments,my children had school fee arrears and we could barely afford decent meals.All I could do was to thank God for such a huge miracle and for his perfect timing.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority is to replace my certificate of Kenya Certicate of Secondary Education ( KCSE ). I completed my secondary education in the year 2008, I got my certificate but I found out after several years my name had been erased. This has made looking for job opportunities a pipe dream and resulted in engaging on community works.
Secondly, I have been longing to be a teacher. I will enrol in Early Childhood Development Course because I love teaching children and the work is marketable everywhere.
Finally, I will have to settle my debts. I have been stressed up and have to restrict my movements.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is having no source of income because i will be uncomfortable in my life. This means I will be unable to pay rent leading to my house being locked up and I cannot ask for a place to sleep with my children. I will not support my children through their education which can lead to dropping of school. This might lead them to get involved with bad company which may ruin their future. They may engage in drug abuse or engage in criminal activities and end up arrested or lose their life.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition is to be a successful business woman in future. With this I will engage in selling of clothes that are trendy and hope my life will change and be able to leave in any place I want. I would invest in buying and selling land to get profit as well as building rental houses to supplement my income. I will make sure I support my children to have quality education because its the best gift a parent can give as well as providing other basic needs for them.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
My usual day starts at 6:00am in the morning when I wake up. I prepare breakfast for my children before they Leave for school. I do house chores and arrange my house. I then leave to Lions Health Center a nearby facility where I work as a Community Health Volunteer (CHV). I have worked with organizations such as Tupange, Afya Jijini and Wash and Nutrion in my area Mabatini ward in Mathare. When I am not at work I relax with my children at home or visit church groups in our church. During weekends I visit group meetings and go to church where I am a Sunday school teacher. When I return home I prepare food for my children then I retire to bed.
