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 currently differently in that I have a cow for rearing to add to one that I already had. I am in a savings group that I joined when I started receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly and when I finally got the lumped savings, I bought a dairy cow. I am glad that soon when it calves, I will be able to sell the extra milk for an income.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to lease a piece of land within the village to plant some maize plants. Our piece of land is quite small and cannot accommodate all the farm activities that we wish to venture. This we hope will do well and when sold will improve our financial status.
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 am in a better position to provide the basic needs for my family comfortable. Before, I used to wholly depend on casal jobs, which sometimes is unreliable. This, at times, forced us to sleep with little food in our stomachs. I am also in good books with our local shopkeeper because whenever I take goods on credit, I am always prompt.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to buy a piece of land to improve my agricultural activities. I currently live in a small rocky piece of land. This limits me in how much agricultural activities I can do in this piece. The extra piece of land will allow me to keep my livestock comfortably while at the same time have some space for some food crops.
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?
Currently, my life is different from how it was before I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. Since I don't entirely depend on casual labor to earn a living makes life easier. Initially, I would overwork my self by doing several casual jobs and walking long distances in order to reach my daily target. I am also less worried about how I will provide for my family. I also no longer fear loosing my assets because most of the time I am not at home doing other businesses. Previously I would be away for days and even weeks and the safety of my properties couldn't be guaranteed. Since I am now working mostly on my farm, I am at peace now. The peace of mind is priceless because I have worked very hard to achieve the little I have acquired in my life.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My next goal is to add another cow in addition to the current stock. I have always loved rearing a number of cows because I always view them as my savings. Whenever I have an emergency, I would use them as leverage by selling some. It is always wise to have a backup plan so as to be prepared in case anything happens. I am hopeful that they will reproduce and will help my family in times of need.
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 am happier and more ambitious in life. The fact that I haven't sold any of my assets especially with the drought that just ended, I feel proud of my self. Initially, when such phases of droughts occurred, I would find myself selling sell some of my cows in order to meet my family's needs. This time around, I didn't sell any of my assets and my family was still able to eat and meet their basic needs. I must thank Give Directly for supporting me, I couldn't have managed fully by myself.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My next goal is to ensure I get a good harvest. I am doing everything to ensure everything is done at the right time and the necessary inputs have been used. This will ensure that we have enough food for a better part of the year and I would not need to spend too much money on food. I can even sell some the extra sacks to help me earn money. I will add it to my savings and later buy a piece of land once I have accumulated enough money
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life and that of my family is a more healthy and happy family since we started receiving the transfer. We now eat good food and we spendbmore time together as family unlike before when I used to spend so much time working and toiling in order to earn.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal for the next 4 months is to build a new house because the one we using now is old and it's starting to get weak.
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 am more dedicated to do my own farm work now unlike before. Since I am the breadwinner of my family, I had to look for casual jobs to do and this meant that I was in most times out of home. When I started receiving the transfers, I started spending more time at home and working on my own farm because the transfers is now used for the basic requirements at home and I can see some development here in my farm.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to buy a piece of land. This will allow me increase the size and scope of land that I till and will also offer enough grazing ground for my livestock. The piece we are currently living in is limited in terms of size and does not allow for extension of farming.
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?
My life currently is different since I now own a phone and I no longer go looking for some casual work to do.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goals I now have is to plant some beans.
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 no longer go looking for some casual work to do daily since I stay at home and look after my livestock.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will have improved in my farming practices and will have planted beans in my farm.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 7 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to start farming for income generation and constant cash flow all through out the year.I want to start poultry keeping and plant tomatoes for selling and home consumption. These is achievable by saving part of the transfers and later putting all those goals to action.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life currently is different in that I don't worry too much.I am now with my family since this transfers has helped to be close to them because I used to travel to far towns to look for jobs which at the end of it transport took almost half of my earnings.My health was also not good since I was not eating well and over working too much but now am healthy and happy to be home all the times.
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 be financial free since my poultry business will be up and running. Have my children well taken care off in terms of food and education.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I can comfortably support my family with ease and mostly spend more time with them unlike before I had to travel far to look for jobs. Educating my children and also feeding was quite a problem for me but for now with GD transfers which I know is constant for sometime am able to plan ahead and use it appropriately.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship I've ever faced in my life is for the past seven years I have been unable to cultivate maize in my farm which has been a source of income to me,due to unfavourable weather conditions and diseases. Since then I've been buying maize to feed my family and this has been so difficult to sustain.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I have fed my livestock and I've ensured that my kids are well fed. I usually sleep feeling relaxed as I hear them discussing school work amongst themselves.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on cultivation of maize and buying of livestock for both subsistence and commercial use.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement came in the year 2004 when I harvested many sacks of maize from my farm. I sold them and ventured myself to livestock farming which has a source of livelihood for my family.