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 currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different in that I now run my own business. After being assured that this transfer would be coming every month, I took a loan from a financial institution and started this business. I am glad that this business is picking up well and I am confident that I will grow. The business is now the main source of income for our family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to open a small boutique business for my spouse in our local center. Now that I have learned the art of this business, she will tend to it as I continue with my current second-hand business. This will allow us to have more than one source of income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I no longer overwork myself in casual jobs. Before I started this business, I used to fully depend on casual jobs to meet our daily needs. When these transfers came, It helped me start a business. Sometimes when I dont get enough in my daily jobs, I still do not worry because I know we have the tranfers as a back-up.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to start a boutique business. I am currently running second-hand clothes selling business in open markets. This comes with its own share of challenges such as heavy rain and scorching sun. Now that I have learned the art of this business, I would love to have one successful boutique. The return from this investment will enable me take better care of my family and meet all the daily needs. Having a stable business will help me grow financially and lead to an improved lifestyle.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months a go in that I no longer work for long hours to be able to put food on the table for my family. This has given me peace of mind and time to attend to my farm and other family duties that are so beneficial to us as a family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goals over the next four months is to be able to save up some of the money from the transfers that I get. The savings shall be so helpful to me in the future in that I shall be able to make a decision on how I can use the savings to better improve my life and that of my family members.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I have been able to meet the cost of the basic daily needs of the family without much struggle like I used to do before. I have never been formally employed or earned anything monthly for the years that I have lived. I have always depended on casual labour to be able to raise the much needed money to meet family's expenses. Doing some casual jobs can be so tiring at times and this can be so stressing as well. With the transfers, I have been able to take time and relax at home whenever I feel tired without having the stress of worrying about the family sleeping hungry.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that we shall have saved enough money from the transfers and finally be able to buy additional livestock. We plan to have a dairy cow that shall help us reduce the cost of buying milk and possibly sell the surplus to make additional income for the family and to meet other needs.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
We used to incur a lot of expenses on paraffin since it was the main source of lighting in our homes, and at the same time, it was a pollutant in the house. we used to incur a lot of expenses. This means now that i can longer buy paraffin which used to affect us. Currently, we have a continuous source of light, no more traveling far to charge our phones and no pollution at all.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in life in the next four months is to ensure I clear school fees for my children. I have had quite a huge sum of arrears of school fees. This has always led to my children being chased out of school which means they cannot have a good learning environment. My wife and I have dedicated the next transfers to clear all the arrears and we are positive about this plan.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I have managed to buy a solar panel for my home. Before this, we used to depend paraffin and D-light which were a problem because of a lot of expenses and at the same time D-light used to get stolen all the time when you leave them outside for charging.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months because I'm planning to buy a donkey that we can use to ferry water to our homes. we used to carry water on our backs and it was hectic. Now we can plan to carry more water and, be relaxed at the same time. This also means that the hygiene in our homes will improve for the better.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The ability to provide basic needs for my family is the greatest joy. It changed my life so much, that I no longer struggle too much to meet them.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a new goal to buy a dairy cow together with my wife.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I have electricity in my house. I bought a solar panel that helps to provide lighting power and phone charging. This has saved me a lot of trouble in buying paraffin.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
The next six months will be different because of ease in providing for my family needs.I will be having a dairy cow that will give me agood income.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to lease a piece of land to plant early maturing crops for sale. These will act as alternative source of income to the family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently my life is life is quite different in that my wife can get water for use easily. Unlike before she had no time to do other jobs but presently ,am happy about her as she can have some time to work in the garden and we expect to have food from the garden.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Now having a solution on water issue I and my wife focuses at intensifying our farming to have more income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest different is that I now have a donkey which enable us to carry several containers of water at a time. Unlike before my wife would travel long distance to fetch water for use and livestock. Now only one trip is enough to carry water for use and livestock and now she gets some time to do other duties.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is loss of my crops due to drought that affected us for a whole year.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the night when we all come together as a family and take supper together.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I'm planning to spend my transfer on starting a small business I. e a kiosk
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am proudest of is a cow that I have bought and it has contributed alot to my life.