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 from how it was before I started receiving help from Give Directly. I am now able to afford several items such as clothes and shoes. I recently bought a few clothes for my kids and I can't express my feeling when I saw them going to school with neat school uniforms. At least they won't be mocked by their fellow pupils anymore. Before, they sometimes used to go to school without some of the items for lack of funds to buy them. I feel good because I can afford most of these items. I know they will improve in their studies and have a bright future.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy a few building materials such as iron sheets and nails. I am planning to build an iron-roofed house. I am currently staying in a grass thatched house which is usually difficult to maintain. I can't even harvest rainwater because grass-thatched roofs can't hold water. It is also a sign of poverty and people tend to despise you when you live under such conditions.
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 my children eat a well-balanced diet and enough for their fill. We used to sometimes eat one meal a day because sometimes i did not have any money to buy enough food, but I am glad that nowadays we rarely miss any meal. I have also won the trust of many people. Nowadays, I can borrow items on credit without a problem. I feel empowered financially and socially too.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to be living in a better and bigger house. I currently live in a small grass thatched-roofed house which is almost collapsing. I want to have an ironed roof house that will last longer as compared to the grass-thatched house that I am currently living in. A bigger room will also allow my children to have a more conducive reading area.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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 no longer feel embarrassed whenever I have visitors after furnishing my home. I bought new chairs using the transfers I got from Give Directly. I have been saving the little I get from the casual jobs that I normally do but I don't think I would manage to buy them this soon. Previously, I would give my visitors water jerrycans to sit on and I would clearly notice they weren't comfortable sitting on them. I am glad this will never worry me again.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My plan in the next few months is to buy a dairy cow. There is a high demand for milk in our village and the thought of taking advantage of that came in. Apart from that, dairy cows do not require so much attention and their feed is locally available in our locality. I am hopeful the cow will reproduce and fill my cattle shed. The offsprings will be a good source of income in the future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life ever since I started receiving transfers from Give Directly is that I have been able to pay my sons school fees. Nowadays he is rarely sent home due to huge fee arrears. I normally use my monthly transfer to pay his school fees and I am glad that the money came at a time when my child was joining a secondary school. It is my pride to see him in secondary school since he is my first child to reach this level of education. I am not sure how I would have managed to pay his school fees but I thank God that Give Directly chose me as one of their beneficiaries. I am also happy that my family and I were able to buy new clothes after a very long time. It is usually hard to have enough money to buy their clothes often.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to ensure that my son gets quality education I am hopeful that he will succeed by excelling in school and getting a good job later. I plan to invest in him because he is the only hope I have. If all goes well, my dream of having a bigger piece of land will come true. I also invested part of the money in agriculture. I hope that I will have enough harvest and the proceeds from selling the produce will help me buy food and other basic needs for my family.
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?
Providing food for my family had always been a challenge. During the dry seasons in which my crops would die, I was always worried about what to do to feed my family. With the money I get form GiveDirectly, I can always buy food for them whether it is drought or a rainy season. Having savings is another difference in my life. The money I used to get from the jobs I could get was never enough to save. These two differences are only possible because of the cash transfers I receive.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan to buy furniture for my house over the next four months.
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 my child has joined a secondary school seamlessly. I was worried that when the time comes, I would not have the money for fees. This was not the case because I started saving as soon as I started to receive money from GIveDIrectly. I took all the savings from my group and used it to pay his school fees. I also bought him aschool uniforms . I am happy to see him going to schol everyday without fee problem.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will be having my first child learning in a secondary school. The others never attained this level of education but finally, I feel like
I am now a real mother too.
6th 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 children are very happy since the school fees problem has been sorted by the transfer from GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months i am planning to buy a goat for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I feel my life has changed totally since the transfer has supported me so much hence reducing the stress i had over money.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am planning to sell the goats hence buy a dairy cow that will provide my family with milk.
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?
I have a goal of starting a poultry farming in my home that will help my family in future in case of an emergency of money i can sell.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am not straining very much like sometime back,at least i have the support of money from GD which makes me feel happy every day.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I am planning to own a dairy cow that will provide milk to my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that i can afford two meals in a day unlike the previous times when i could afford one meal in a day.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I've ever faced in my life is being unable to read and write due to my parent's inability to take me to school. As a result of these, many opportunities of progression have passed me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up in the morning and preparing my kids to go to school and thereafter going to my usual place of work.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to spend my transfer on improving my house and paying school fees for my kids.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am proudest of is despite myself never attending school, I have ensured some of my kids have finished schooling while others are continuing. I can now relax knowing they will not be illiterate like me.