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 do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to have accumulated enough money to which as per the plan, the money will be meant to purchase a cow. Currently I am working hard in the casual labor, and with the monthly contribution I have been receiving, I hope to add up to the savings and spend the same in purchasing a good breed of a cow.
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 the school fees payment. I have been able to address all school needs for my children whenever they are sent home to collect. This to me and even to every member of the household has been a relief and we have always blessed the Lord and thanking GiveDirectly for this noble course in our household.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months I have an additional goal to purchase a cow. I am joining a Merry-go-round where we will be contributing to the individual members in turns. I am hoping to join and if I will be lucky to get one of the first slots it will be of great advantage since I will direct the money to obtaining a heifer.
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I believe I will be living a much better life than the way we are now. By then I would have harvested some maize which I planted with part of the transfers which I received from Give Directly. This means we will not lack food and spend less on buying other daily necessities. Again, I would have bought seats for my house and whenever I would have some guest, I wouldn't run up and down to borrow some seats from neighbours something which has been bothering me for some time now.
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 been able to pay school fees for my children. Before, I was so worried as they would be sent home and stay back home for so long as I could no afford to pay their fees on time. The greatest fear which I had was my children would start stealing from neighbours and would bring me trouble.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I am thinking of saving my next transfers to enable me to buy some seats our my new house. My children are now home for the Christmas holiday, I would spend my next transfers on buying the seats so that I would have where my guest would set on.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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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 I will have planted cabbage seeds in my farm. I am hoping that it will be at weeding stage after this time. I will sell them at our nearby market after harvesting and use the money to buy some building materials to use to build a house for my sons.
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 my family nowadays have enough food for their consumption. Before, my family would at times take tea without milk when I did not have money. I am now glad since my family always takes tea with milk as I now buy milk from my neighbor and pay for it at the end of the month when I get my transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goals for my life for the next four months is to buy some cabbage seeds to plant and fertilizers to apply during planting. I am opting for this since it is what I can afford without taking a loan.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I have been able to pay school fees for my children on time. I usually use my transfers to achieve this. I am now a proud parent since my children are no longer being sent back home to collect school fees. Due to this, their self-esteem has improved due to their improved performance.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change a lot in the next six months because I will have purchased cushions for the seats that I have in my house. Besides, I will be happier and enjoying higher self-esteem since my children will be having their own bedroom within our homestead. Still I will be running my own restaurant business so as to avoid the tedious casual work. Thus, I will be getting more income and leading a better life as a responsible and caring parent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Over the last four months, I have been saving the transfers that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly. Accordingly, I am more optimistic that my dream of building a house for our boys will materialize. My children have been sharing a bed with my neighbor's children since they do not have a room for at our home. This has been stressing me because they waste lots of time which could be utilized for studies. Thus, collecting the relatively sufficient funds for the project (a new house) serves as the biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Building a new house for my children serves as an additional goal for my life for the next four month. I chose to prioritize on the project to ensure that my sons have ample time for studies while avoiding the relatively challenging movements at night as they have been used to while seeking accommodation from my neighbor's place.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is much different from how it was four months ago because I have drastically reduced the amount of energy and time that I spend handling tedious casual work. On the contrary, I have more time to handle my own work and spend with my family. Besides, I have sufficient funds for purchasing substantial food and clothes for my family following the consistent transfers that I get from GiveDirectly.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to have built two houses one for my children and for my own. I expect to have fully furnished the house.
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 my current transfer is that I have been able to give my family enough and assured food unlike before when I used to engage in hard casual job in order to provide for my family. I am currently leaving a happier life due the monthly transfers assistance to meet my daily household needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal goal for my life for the next four months is to build a house for my children.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I am currently empowered to do my own work that helps me provide for my family. I am currently able to meet my children's basic needs and petty requirements unlike before. I can save through merry go round and I see doing something better with it in the near future. I have see good changes coming in to my life.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal that I have planned after I received the transfer is to enroll my daughter in a college for her to further her studies
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life currently is different from how it would have been before receiving the transfers in that since I used part of the transfers to Improve my onions selling business, I am sure of a good turnover. I am also happy because at least I have taken a step in the construction of another house since the money I received also helped me to buy some iron sheets
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to be better in the next six months because I will have constructed a house for my children as well as for the guest since currently I do not have somewhere to host my guest for a night. By then, I will also have bought cushions for my furniture which we currently sit on without cushions
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the payments is that I am happy because the money I received Improved my onions selling business hence I am sure of a good profit. I also used the money to buy Iron sheets for the construction of another house enough to accommodate my family. This is a very big step in my life which I couldn't have done before the transfers
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In 2016, Samwel, who is my husband, became so sick and I had to take him to the hospital. This was where his health deteriorated that much to an extend that I did not believe that he could survive again. This was so serious that I could take him out of the bed in the morning and back to the house in the evening. This worsen the case when my daughter at the house gave birth and I had to still take him to the hospital. For all these, I had no money to use. This was my biggest hardship that I faced.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is normally in the evening. This is when I am done with my daily business and it is the time to count the business returns that I have gotten.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers to increase my onion-selling business. This will assist me to sustain my family through the provision of daily needs.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement that I am proudest of is the fact that I recieved the word of God. I believe that if it was not through this, I could be stressed up and long gone in this earth.