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.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal is to buy sheep. I need to keep them because they multiply quickly. I will then use them to meet my other needs such as food for the household during famine.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I spent part of the money I received buying farm inputs. I bought beans seeds and grew them on a fertile farm. By the look of things, I am going to have a good harvest. I have even used the green beans for food while I am waiting for them to mature in about one month to come. I will be selling the produce and buy more farm inputs and use the profits on livestock that will result in more profits and secure me financially.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to have improved in the next six months because I will be having more sheep to my flock. I will be using the transfers to buy one every one month. This means that I will have about 5 more sheep. This will then give me a lot of money on selling the sheep. They multiply quickly and make me financially able to provide for my family. In the next six months, I will be able to take my household through famine without lacking too much on basic needs.
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal in the next moths is to lease a piece of land to allow do more of farming. The current piece that I am currently farming is quite small and I wish to do more to ensure that I have a bigger return from farming.
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 was able to plant my farm on time with little struggle. Before, it was sometimes a challenge getting enough money to buy and plant maize seeds since I do not have a regular and an assured income. I used to depend on what I get from my farm which is very unreliable. I am glad that I bought hybrid seeds and planted them with ease. This increases the growth percentage of the maize as compared to planting local seeds which I sometimes did. I am hopeful that I will have a good harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the next six months is to have enough work and activities such as farming to do. This apart from earning me an income, it also keeps me busy so that I do have too much idle time that I may misuse it. This is the reason I want to lease another piece of land from my neighbor to allow me to plant more maize on top of what I already planted. Proceeds from all these activities is a source of growth for me both financially and economically. I wish to have grown in the two going forward.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 ago in that I have been able to engage in farming activities. This has enabled me to stop engaging myself from doing tedious casual work. As a result of this, I now get enough rest as I no longer strain myself.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal in life is to increase the acreage of land under farming. Currently, I am aiming at leasing an acre. This will increase my production thus increase in my income. I will, in turn, use this income to invest more in farming using the returns I will be getting.
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 lease a farm. I have never engaged in any farming activities ever since. Being able to practice farming has given me a peaceful mind. I will sell part of my produce at our nearest town after setting aside some for our consumption.
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 increased the acreage of land under farming. Due to this, my income generated from farming will increase. As a result of this, I will be able to invest more in other income-generating activities.
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?
My life is currently in that I have been able to have more assets at my disposal and even be able to work less sometimes when I feel exhausted. I have been able to meet my personal needs without having to struggle like I used to do before. On the other hand, I have been responsible enough to help my parents in actualizing the various projects that they have undertaken. I feel so much indebted to GiveDirectly transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I plan to buy an additional goat by saving up part of my transfers and combining it with proceeds from my casual labour to be able to buy this extra goat. This, I know shall be very helpful to me in the days to come especially when they shall have increased in number.
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 have been able to buy a goat which is one very valuable asset to me since it is going to help me a lot in times of financial needs. I combined the money that I got from my casual labour with my latest transfers to be able to buy this goat. I plan to increase the number of goats that I keep in order to be more empowered going forward. Nothing is as fulfilling to me than to have such assets that I can take pride in and be able to do other investments with their help.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I intend to add more goats for rearing and poultry keeping as well. Diversifying my sources of income shall empower me financially and is even allow me to think of other investments going forward.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, I have changed a lot of things in my life. I have repaired my house to a better condition. I had roofed with very old roofing sheets that had been used previously in another house. They had a lot of holes and the roof was looking every time it rained. This was very saddening. I replaced the roofing sheets with new ones that I bought from the GiveDirectly transfers. I also bought so many clothes that make me look good.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have the plan to buy some chicken to rear. I will keep them in order to grow the poultry system. I also plan to buy sheep ffor rearing too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months, I have bought an additional two cows. These are bulls that I will keep them maturity to maturity and sell them. This will save my money and also grow it to more than just this transfer. I will keep themfor about one year and sell them in order to build a house. I will also plan buy a motprcycle for startinga a taxi bbusiness.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will have changed in so many ways. One is that I will have brought up the bulls I bought to maturity. This will then be able to build a decent house to live in. I will also be collecting other building materials such as timber and along poles the way. will then build a house that can be used even to host guests comfortably.
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?
The new goal that I have developed since I started receiving the transfer is that I want to buy a cow and a sheep.I also have goal of leasing more piece of land.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been if I had not received the transfer in that am happier than before.The transfer has given me a support and more strength to engage in more farming. I am currently more encouraged by the transfer to work harder.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to be living a better life in next six months in that I will have built a new house.I expect to have saved enough money to buy a cow and a sheep in the next six months.
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 transfer is that I feel supported in my farming activities.This gives me more strength and power to do more and better farming.I am currently hopeful of better changes in my life.
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 lack of school fees which prevented me from studying beyond primary school.I feel I could have been a better person in terms of getting income if I had at least completed secondary education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I am through with farming activities.This because I relax and chat with my friends in the nearby shopping centre.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on expanding my house to a larger one.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of so far is being able to improve my farming activities moreso potato farming which has enabled me build a house for myself.