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 different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Before the transfers, I had started looking for ways to raise money for buying building materials. I have a family and it is a very big embarrassment if we have to seek for shelter anytime I go home with my family. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been saving part of it on a monthly basis with a view of buying a piece of land where I will build my own house. With these savings, I feel encouraged in my heart that I will finally have the house I have been talking about for years. I do not know if I would have made such an important step if it were not for the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
The only goal I have for now is to save. My goal is to buy a piece of land where I will be building my own house. I have never had a house before and anytime I go visiting at home, I have to seek for a sleeping place. I would not want to continue in the same direction. I feel it is time I have my own house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer on paying school fees for my children. They had been given a warning on the same and in a weeks time, they save would be sent home. It would not have been a big disappointment when they are sent home yet I was given the warning in advance. I appreciate GD for the transfers because they covered me.
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
3997 KES ($39 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different since I began receiving my monthly transfers from Give Directly, I have adopted the virtue of saving part of the money I get from my income or my monthly transfers from GiveDirectly. Though its a long term goal I would press on so long as I am still a GiveDirectly's beneficiary in order to achieve my desire of buying a piece of land at the countryside not so far from the city. I understand meeting this goal with the little income I get from manual jobs which can only meet my household's basic needs is a little challenging but having the monthly boost from GiveDirectly is my main motivation.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
For a long time I have been struggling to pay my house rent because my income has always been meager hence with the varies family's needs I have always felt overwhelmed. Over the years ,I have been thing on the possible ways to relieved some of these burdens . Therefore, with the financial assistance from GiveDirectly I have come up with a new goal basically is to save and buy a piece of land and build my family home that would enable me evade the stress that come up with paying rent. At the moment I have already started acting on it by adopting the skill of saving on a monthly basis.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My most recent transfer catered for the funeral contributions for my in law who died last month. Having contributed it meant a lot since my wife's family felt my support as their son in law in this time of need. I also used the money for my son's graduation ceremony as he was being welcome for the next grade that is class one next year. The remaining amount I bought food for my family's consumption.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($48 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have been working as a tout for many years and doing other manual jobs as a casual labourer but the income is always little, it could only cover the basic household needs. With the little I got, it was impossible to buy the daily household needs and still have some left to save. However, my life is now different because since I began receiving my monthly transfers from Give Directly, I opened a bank account from which I always save a portion of the money. My desire is to save enough to buy my own land to live with my family, even if it's outside the city.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
For a long time, I have been thinking of starting my own business by saving money. This, however, is a long term plan but my current goal is to save and buy a plot to build a house where my family can own and live in. This has been my desire so that I can minimize the expenses that go into the rent.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I saved the whole amount of the most recent transfer I received in my bank account. I want to save enough money to enable me to buy a small piece of land outside the city where I can build and make a home there for my family.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
5000 KES ($50 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I am planning to save and be able to purchase a piece of land back at home in Kitale where I can start farming and generate income for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference is that I now have hope even if I fail to get an income I am guaranteed that I have savings for my future plans and other goals in the pipeline.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The saved the previous transfer I received from GD. I am planning to save and be able to purchase a piece of land back at home in Kitale where I can start farming and generate income for my family. This will enable me to become more independent.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
The first thing that rang in my mind is that GD is a real organization and not scum like other organizations in the past. I felt so happy and new that my dream was drawing closer.
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My first priority is to set up a business of selling young children shoes. In my current area of residence, there are many children around without shoes. This business will be lucractive because I know it will boom in the market, improve my living standards and also provide employment to my wife who I can leave in the shop to run the business as I run other duties or jobs. Secondly, using the profits from the business plus some of this monies, I would like to take myself to school and undertake a computer course. Information technology courses pay off well. I would like to follow the path of my friend who studied Information technology , got a job and is doing very well in life. Lastly, I would go obtain my driving licence in order to be able to quip myself for my future hopes and dreams. This includes owning my own car that I can turn it to a taxi business and drive around or even get employed where I will require my driving licence.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is police violence because policemen normally arrest anyone without any valid reason. I fear for my life since with random arrests my position and state of mind destablises and if i have a job to run to I can't make it thus ending up to miss out on the job which means no money in hence I will have difficulties meeting my family's and self daily needs.
What are your greatest ambitions?
Being a role model to my children and friends. I hope that i will set an example to those around me and that one day my children will be proud of who i have become and follow in my footsteps to create a better life for themselves and so will my friends.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
I wake up in the morning, if i have a job i prepare myself and go to work. However, my day is dependant on the kind of job i have. Ipick short term contracts that have challenges of uncertanities and this ends up either boosting my moral or ruining it. This is so because by day, you can't tell if your contract will be terminated or not. In cases of work, i come back home in the evening tired so i relax as I await my supper and going to bed.
During my free time I normally go for my football practices for about 3hours, return home to watch movies then later go relax with friends and storytell.
