GDLive Newsfeed
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.
Zakayo's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Zakayo enrolled.
"Receiving this money means financial security. My wife is a tailor and she works far from our home and she commutes daily. It has been my dream to help her relocate her business close to our home. She spend KES 50 to and from her work place. The money she uses for transportation has to come from her daily income which is also not consistent. Besides that she is expectant and she is using motorcycle as means of transport which not safe for her pregnancy.So when I get this money I would construct a kiosk selling household items and my wife can do her tailoring within the same shop at the same time be the shopkeeper to cut down costs. To construct it I will spend KES 50000 of my transfer and KES 30000 as starting capital. This business will be our source of income and I won't have to rely much on casual jobs where I work as a carpenter."
Emily's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Emily enrolled.
"Receiving this money means that I will be able to walk again soon because for the last 6 months I have been nursing a serious injury from a motorcycle accident that affected my left limb. I was taken to hospital and they only fixed my leg partly this is because the amount of money which is needed to rectify the bones is too much. I cannot afford to pay KES. 200,000 even if I sell all my belongings. The initial amount of partly fixing the injury has already cost me KES. 100,000 which we got by organizing a funds drive in the village. With GiveDirectly transfers I shall be able to pay a deposit and I hope the hospital will accept to book me in for a surgery as we look with my relatives how to fundraise for the other half."
Caleb's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Caleb enrolled.
"Receiving this money will mean that I will be able to buy a piece of land. I stay in my uncle's land and he can get it back anytime so buying 2 points of an acre with KES 40000 of the money will be great to me since it will give me the flexibility to do farming or any activity that I want. I plan to buy a dairy cow that I will take care of and sell the milk to Siongiroi Dairy and earn something to sustain me when the money that I get from my motorcycle taxi is less." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Johana's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Johana received a $27 second payment.
"I lost my job at the beginning of this year. I then decide to venture into the motorcycle business. So I bought a second-hand motorcycle on hire purchase. I am still paying for the motorcycle and this requires me to pay a certain amount at the end of the month. When I received the transfer I used KSH 1800 together with my other savings and paid the installment that was owed the previous month. The motorcycle has helped me in terms of helping out in fetching water for my family. Due to the drought, water is hard to get and one has to walk for several kilometers to get it. Now that I have the motorcycle I help out in fetching for my family, other family members, and other people who pay me for the service. The remaining amount of KSH 1200 I spent buying food for my family." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Famata's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Famata received a $284 initial payment.
"I have been planning on how to start a business but there have been no way out; luckily for me I was eligible to be enrolled on the cash transfer program of GiveDirectly in my village. I was so happy when I heard from others in the village that our transfer has come from GiveDirectly, quickly I went and grab my phone and went through the message. I started to celebrate when I saw my transfer message." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Babygirl's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Babygirl received a $299 second payment.
"The transfer i received from Givedirectly was used to pay for zinc and other materials. I used some for mother's hospital bills. I invested some of the money in business and my farm. Givedirectly has done well for me. I have suffered so much carrying fufu bags on my head to various markets ground. Am planning of buying one motorcycle for my family private use."
Margaret's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Margaret received a $489 initial payment.
"I spent part of my first transfer on buying two mattresses at KES 10000, these were to replace the old ones which had worn out and this affected us healthwise. We could always complain of some back pains and lots of discomforts every morning. Also, I bought four goats at KES 12000, which now serve as the living assets that I will rely on for the rest of my life. I later purchased some spare parts for my motorcycle which had broken down a few months ago. In addition, I boosted my business( kiosk) and I am glad for now I am getting good returns being the major source of income. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my children and decent clothes,"
Towett's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Towett received a $472 second payment.
"I had planned that when I get the second transfer, I will use the money on starting a small business selling clothes. I was however not able to fulfill the plan because I got into a motorcycle accident and I used the second transfer on my medical expenses. Despite what happened, I still have the plan and I am going to find a way to start it once I get well. I plan to engage in the farming of onions, maize, and tomatoes and sell them to raise the money that I need to start the business. I want to start a business because I want to be self-employed. I do not want to continue relying on the casual jobs that other people give me to earn a living. Through the business, I will be able to earn a better income than when I do casual jobs."
Mwalimu's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Mwalimu enrolled.
"Receiving this money means adding stock to my charcoal business. I have a business of selling charcoals at Mombasa. I started with a capital of KES 10000. Upon receiving this money, I will use KES 50000 to boost my business. This will raise my daily income from KES 1000 to approximately KES 3000. This is subject to daily sales. I will use KES 60000 to buy three cows as investment." (Occupation: Motorcycle or bicycle taxi)
Christine's family
access_time almost 3 years ago
Christine enrolled.
"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."
motorcycle