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 new goal is to build a kitchen. We moved to a separate place, a small distance from where we previously lived. We had built only one house and I want to build another one that will be used as a kitchen.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily is that I am no longer too dependent on my spouse for all our daily needs as it was before. My spouse is our household's breadwinner and he struggles to meet all our needs especially the children's school fees. Asking him for money for some of the small household stuff sometimes did not go well with me since he was already carrying too much of a burden. I am glad that nowadays I help him meet some of these needs and he doesn't need to struggle too much. This gives me joy knowing that I help my spouse take care of our family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to have a good dairy cow that will supply us with enough milk for household use. I currently have one indigenous cow but its productivity is quite low and we are sometimes forced to buy some more milk. To meet these expectations, I am already planting napier grass such that by the time we buy the dairy cow, we will have enough feed for it. We will sell the excess milk to our neighbours for an income that will also go a long way in meeting some of our daily needs. Owning a good dairy cow is also an achievement!
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal at the moment is to construct a kitchen. Since we recently shifted to a new village, we managed to construct new structures except for a kitchen. I currently use a temporary one which is not very hygienic to cook in as well as not safe at night. Besides, I cannot use it when it is raining hence forced to use a charcoal stove which is normally very expensive.
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 joy and peace of mind that came when I had the means to start a business and meet most of my basic needs. The most touching one is seeing my children put on decent clothes. They used to be mocked at and I always felt embarrassed. I had failed them as a parent and their self-esteem was being bruised. I feel good because they are now embraced by their friends and they look happy. In addition to that, I also managed to initiate a poultry project. This will help me generate more income from the sale of eggs
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is the joy and peace of mind that came when I had the means to start a business and meet most of my basic needs. The most touching one is seeing my children put on decent clothes. They used to be laughed at and I always felt embarrassed. I had failed them as a parent and their self-esteem was being bruised. I feel good because they are now embraced by their friends and they look happy. In addition to that, I also managed to initiate a poultry project. This will help me generate more income from the sale of eggs
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I believe education is the key to success and despite the fact that I didn't have an opportunity to study due to the shortcoming such as lack of school fees in my childhood. I do not desire my children to pass through that life as well. Therefore, my life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that my children are attending school consistently because I have been able to pay their school fees on time. It is my joy seeing them enthusiastic and passionate to quench their desire for education.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new additional goal for the next four months is to save part of the transfer from GiveDirectly on a monthly basis and profits from my business as well and use the finances to build a kitchen. Currently, the one I have is small and does not have a place for storing my kitchen items.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have a small business at a nearby center near home. Previously, the profits from it could barely meet most of my family's needs most particularly paying school fees for my children. That meant at off-peak hour of my business,to do casual jobs until late hours to make up for the money which was required. Therefore, I did not have time to bond with my family because of being to much engaged.The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is the ability to pay school fees on time. Therefore,my children are no longer sent home to collect money which has made them to consistently stay in school. I have also stopped doing casual jobs but rather dedicated my time to my business. I'm so grateful for GiveDirectly's transfers since it has enable me revive my business and have time to bond with my family as well
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 bought a dairy cow with the profits I make from my business and GiveDirectly's transfers. Meaning, I will be able to cut costs of buying milk on a daily basis which is very expensive
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different in that I am now able to buy some of the family's most basic needs with little or no difficulty unlike in the past. This is largely due to the availability of cash through the monthly transfers that we get from GiveDirectly. My family is generally a more happy family than it used to be four months a ago
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, we expect to have brought our newly built house to its full completion. We are left with windows to fix and painting and this we expect to be able to accomplish in the next four months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
GiveDirectly transfers came at a time we had just stopped bringing the house that we were building to completion. This was largely due to the fact that we could not manage building the house and affording to pay school fees for our children who had just joined high school then. We had to stop building as we struggled to raise money just enough to pay school fees for our children. With the transfers, we have been able to continue with the building and at the same time keep our children in school. We have also been able to improve our crop production by improving our farming practices. We can now afford hybrid seeds and fertilizer and always plant in time. This has been the biggest difference in our daily lives over the last four months.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months we expect to have fully settled in our new house. It is at this time that I also expect to have experienced the full potential of my small land as I will have started reaping from our farm produce. This I know will ease the burden of us toiling day in day out to put food on the table for the family. My family will definitely be happier than this and I will be a proud parent.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because it has boosted my fruits business.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to complete plastering my house and also buy a goat.
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 these transfers have enabled me buy materials for my house under construction.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have completed my three roomed house which is currently under construction. I expect my business to expand and reduce household items budget.
2nd 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 is to buy livestock
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before I received GD transfer, I had started building myself a house, which stagnated due to lack of funds. GD transfer aided me buy materials and continue with construction.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have finished constructing and equipping my house 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 is that GD transfer helped me buy materials to construct my house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is getting to put food on the table this is because of the yellow maize disease that struck this area we now only rely on bought maize which really strains me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening because that is when my family is back together and everyone is giving their encounters and they are all happy.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend part of my transfer on paying school fees Iam also planning on building a new house with the remaining amount.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I am proud of the fact that with my little earnings my kids are going to school.I feel proud whenever I see my son who successfully completed his secondary studies and is waiting to join campus.