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?
The biggest difference in my daily life is in farming. I have been using the money to buy farm inputs. Over the last four months, I bought cabbage, seeds, bean seeds and planting fertilizer. I also used part of the money to plow that land. The results speak for itself. All crops are ready for sale and this is going to be a huge harvest because all farming operations were done properly and with the certified seeds and good quality fertilizer. I a,m so happy that my farm will yield more than ever before. Without GD, I would not have farmed at this level meaning that profist would just be the usual meager ones.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a goal to pay school fees for my child in a private school. This is in order to give my child a good education. Public schools here are often overcrowded classrooms making the child to teacher interaction lesser which is nothing compared to the private schools. I desire to have my child school in the better-equipped classrooms so I will be paying for the more expensive school terms in one of them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is the ease with which I provide food for my household. Unlike before, I buy enough daily food without having to supplement the efforts with menial jobs. The transfers, when added to my little salary from my tacing job, is sufficient. In fact, I get extra to save in a merry go round group but the fact that we get enough food without too much struggle makes me happy.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to have improved in that I will have expanded the farm activities. I will have leased more farm and grown more crops. This investment will be earning larger proceeds that will improve the lives of my family members. I will get money for school fees and food from the farm.
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 in the last four months in that I have enough food for the family. This is because I was able to cultivate our farm and plant at the right season using my transfers. Due to this, I no longer spend much money on food like I used to do before all thanks to GiveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to save some money in the merry go round group to cement the floor of my house and be dust free, this will reduce the dust related diseases to my children. I have longed for so long to at least live in a semi-permanent house if not permanent but I have not been able to achieve this due to lack of money. I am now glad since this savings plan will enable to achieve this.
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 do farming on time. I have the money to pay workers or hire a tractor to cultivate my farm. I also use the money I receive from GD to buy fertilizers and this has resulted in a good harvest and enough food to feed my family. Before I could not get the money for cultivating my farm. We could dig with our hands and this was taking much time and we could dig a small piece of land and sometime also we could lack the money to buy seeds and even fertilizers. It was so embarrassing to be buying food all the season and yet we had a piece of land. I am so grateful for the support because we currently we do farming on time and we get a good harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six month in that I will have saved some money from my salary and also from the group to replace the windows and in cementing the floor of my house. I am planning on buying a new one because the one we have is old and not secure. Being able to replace these windows will enhance the level of security in my house.
12th 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?
My life currently different from how it was four months in that we have bought some building materials. We are planning on building a spacious house for visitors. This was not possible because I and my spouse does not have a continuous source of income and the little amount of money we could get we could spend on food for the family and to pay school fee.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goals for the next four months is that I would have bought all the building materials and build a spacious house for my family. The house that we have now is small and cannot host all my family members comfortablly. At times when we have visitors, we have to take them to the neighboring houses to sleep and this is not good at all and it causes inconveniency.
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 used to struggle so much to pay my college fees. My spouse does not have a continues source of income and he could do odd jobs and save the little money he could get to pay the college fee and this was affecting my college performance because at times I could be sent home to collect the fees. After we started receiving the transfer our lives have really changed. We could combine the transfer with my spouse and pay the college fee on time. My performance improved very well and I was able to graduate and currently I have secured a job at the nearest primary school near home. We are so grateful because right now we are planning on building a spacious house for my family which was not possible before due to payment of school fees.
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 completed building a house for visitors. I'm also planning on buying a dairy cow to cut the cost of buying milk. I will also be earning a daily income from the sales of milk to meet additional needs for the family and to pay school fees for my uncle in secondary school because his parent is not able to raise his school fees.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I see my life currently different because I always have a monthly income.I go to work everyday knowing that I have support to my earnings from these transfers.This has made me happier and enhanced my performance at work.I also don't strain to go do casual jobs after my school hours is done
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan save money for the next four months so that I can buy a dairy cow.I will sell a calve I own right now and add to the savings in order to raise enough to buy a mature cow.This will help me to start getting milk.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that now have a place to live in.I build a house of my own and painted it.I did not have a kitchen before.I used to share one with my mother in law.I am now happy because I can cook in my own kitchen.This makes me feel free and happy in my home.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be changed in the next six months because I will have accomplished my goals. I will have a good home.I will be having a kitchen and a well furnished house.I will be having a dairy cow.The money that I would have to be buying milk with will be used in other ways.This will make my life very good and healthy.I am sure I will even be looking good.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 7 years ago
attach_money
The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is raising my college school fee. Joining college for the first time was hard for our young family since we had no major source of income. As I was going on with my certificate and diploma studies it was still hard for me since I kept stopping on the way to accumulate enough money first before I resume.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is after job when I arrive home in the evening. This is the time where we as a family share the days encounters. This give us a chance to laugh and thank God whenever we talk of the day's achievements.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I have a plan to spend my transfer together with my husban's transfer and add up with our savings to build a new house.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The a chievement I am proudest of so far is that, after sitting for my KCSE certificate in Secondary school, I never stopped there but persued a certificate course in education and there after graduated. After my certificate course I enrolled for a diploma in Education and currently I am working in the nearby primary school as a PTA teacher.