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?
Finding the next odd jobs is what I could wake up every morning thinking about. It was the only way that I depended on to feed my family and my husband was not any different. He could also do the jobs to sustain our family. The worst part was when we both lacked a single coin after toiling the whole day. The other option that we were used to was borrowing from neighbors. When I go my transfer and invested in a business, it was life-transforming. Currently, my life is different from how it was in that, taking care of my daily needs has been easy and I do not take loans unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to establish my homestead. I want to have a place where there is maximum freedom. Currently, We stay at my brother in-law's compound. I normally feel uneasy but I have no option because I have not yet saved enough money to move in my own place.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I had some goals in my life which I had been yearning to accomplish for some time now but I was not able to due to lack of money. The pressing one was to have a solar panel. With the transfer, I was able to buy one and I am grateful. My house is lit and my children take most of their time studying unlike before where they were using a lantern which was dim. I am a proud mother seeing my children studying well and the fact that it has helped me cut the cost of buying paraffine every time is the biggest difference that I have experienced so far.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the next six months to have my own homestead. I intend to keep on buying iron sheets and other building materials in order to meet this goal. Currently, I stay in my brother inlaw's compound. I normally feel uneasy but when I will have my own place, I will definitely enjoy the freedom that I have wanted for a long time.
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?
In most cases, I have been using the transfers to buy food for the family which means it is now almost impossible for people to go hungry in this house. Way back in the past, I used to go for the casual jobs so that I can earn some little pay which I would then use to feed my family but right now I do not have to struggle that much.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a plan of getting a new house for my family and move away from my brother's house where I have been staying for the last three years. I feel it is time for me to get a house of my own and settle with my family. My brother has always been so supportive during all those years but I feel it is the right time now for me to move out and live independently.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference for is that I have been able to pay school fees for my kids all along without struggling so much like I used to do back then. Initially, my kids used to go to school on an on and off basis. There are occasions when the kids could stay home for more than even two weeks before going back to school because I had no money to pay their school fees.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to make a change in my life by starting a small scale business which can generate money for me on a rolling basis. The money generated from the business will then go a long way in helping me meet the family demands and daily expenditures in the house.
12th 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?
A few months ago, I was able to use my savings to buy a solar lamp which relieved us from using a kerosene lantern. The lantern was not as bright and produced a lot of smoke that might have affected my children's health especially when they inhaled the poisonous smoke whenever they sat close to it to do their homework. This has also reduced my daily expense because I don't have to buy kerosene.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
We are currently living in my in-laws' compound and we wish to move into our own compound as tradition demands as soon as possible. My husband and I have been purchasing the required building materials to help us achieve this goal, but we still don't have enough. My goal is to use some of my next few transfers to purchase the remaining materials so that we can move out in the next three 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 in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I have been able to get food every day without fail. A while back, this could not be guaranteed as I totally depended on my husband who would only send me little money whenever he wished not minding if it was enough for our needs or not. I do not have a source of income which made me totally dependant on my husband, but now, it's a bit different because I can afford to take care of my needs even when has not sent us money.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Once we have completed the moving plans, I will want to invest my transfers into a business to enable me have an extra source of income. I hope that with the profits I will be making,I will be able to give my children better lifestyles and better meals. My other goal is to be totally independent of my husband and make something out of my life as well.
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 I no longer have to struggle so much like I used to do in the past.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal includes building a new house for my growing family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The money has helped me when it comes to effective land cultivation and also paying school fees on time for my children.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will have changed because I believe I will have built my new house, something that I really yearn for at the moment.
3rd 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 not added any new goal to the one I had before.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Since Give Directly came to my life, my farming methods has improved a great deal, I now have a solar system and no longer buy kerosene like before which has reduced my daily expenses and I am able to pay school fees in time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to have my own business and and later build a new house in my own home
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to plough by myself and it would take a lot of time. I was always late especially with planting but since Give Directly sent me the transfer, my farm is well kept and am not overloaded with work like before. I am looking forward to having a good harvest this time around.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is how to get food for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I have woken up and ready to face the day to do my chores at home.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
When i receive this transfer,i am planning to build my home and start a business I can also buy a cow.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The proudest achievement of my life is building the house that I currently stay in.