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 do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect in the next six months, I shall have bought the necessary building materials which will facilitate the construction of my kitchen. The actualization of this kitchen will give me an easy time when I want to cook. This is because I have been using the main house to cook with the three-stone stove which emits smoke that makes any person in the house to have a sense of discomfort.
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 now have bought a goat to add unto the ones I had before. I am hoping very soon they will multiply after reproducing because they are known of having young ones after a short period of time. My plan is to sell some of the offspring in future. I believe that this business will earn me an income that will help me in paying school fees for my children and also cater to other basic needs for my family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new goal yet because I have chosen to build my own kitchen through savings these transfers in the next four months. I also feel it is my greatest moment to implement what I have yearned for years before GiveDirectly phases out of our villages.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Lack of reliable sources of income has been the biggest hardship I've ever faced in life and since I started receiving these transfers it has doubled my income. Today, I find it easier to budget for my money and purchase household items that I could not afford such as my household utensils.
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am planning to buy a few goats that I will be rearing for future financial benefits. One advantage of having the goats around is because nobody knows what the future would bring. In any event that the future becomes bleak and I have no other source of getting finances.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference for is the number of iron sheets that I have already purchased within the last four months. I have been accumulating the iron sheets every month for purposes of constructing a new kitchen structure. I currently use a grass thatched structure which is in such a dilapidated state.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to build a new kitchen structure where I will be cooking my meals for my family. Currently, I have a temporary structure made of mud and a grass-thatched roof that leaks terribly every time it rains, which makes life quite hard during the rainy season. For the new structure, I will add an additional room next to it where the kids will be spending their nights.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have been using the money to seek medical attention because I have been suffering from a chronic chest problem which has been really disturbing me for the last several years. At times I used to skip visiting the hospital because of lack of finances, but thanks be to God that GD came to our village and since then I have never skipped any visit.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
After I have completed constructing the new kitchen which I am currently planning, I will invest in a grocery business which will earn me some extra income even after this project is over. In my poor health status, this is the only thing I can do without having to strain. I hope that this will change my life by making me enough money to take care of my needs and becoming totally independent once again.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Because I am not able to work or engage in any income generating activity, I was always broke and found it hard to take care of personal needs and those of my family. Now that I am receiving something little every month from GD, I am able to provide and buy the necessities in the house which makes me feel useful again.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have an old grass-thatched kitchen which leaks a lot during the rainy season. I have not been able to renovate it due to the scarcity of grass in our village. This is why I have been buying building materials such as iron sheets which I will use to construct a new iron roofed one that will also serve as my grandchildren's bedroom. This is my biggest priority at the moment and I hope to achieve it before the August Holidays when my grandchildren will be coming over.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
In the previous months, I was able to save some of the transfers and purchased new utensils. I only had old plastic plates which were very unpresentable and embarrassing whenever I had visitors. This forced me to borrow decent ones from my neighbour which she was not quite happy about. This is no longer the case as I have my own that I am also proud to lend.I am so grateful to GD for taking away my shame.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have saved enough money to employ someone to work on my farm because my condition can't allow me to perform had chores.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest diferrene in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I feel proud I have already bought building materials that I'm planning to use to construct a kitchen since the current kitchen is in a bad state.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months of my life I have an addititonal goal of purchasing both a table and seats to add to the few that I have currently.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I have bought of the utensils I didn't have, so I no longer borrow from friends whenever I have visitors. I have also bought building materials thus I have the hopes of soon constructing a decent kitchen.
Initial 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 new goal of opening a business to help me utilize my leisure time and generate some income for the family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Were it not for the transfer, I would not have acquired the items that I mentioned before. I would still be asking for utensils from the neighbors whenever I have visitors.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have the many household items that I have never owned in life. For instance, I have never owned seats since marriage, I thank God I will soon acquire them.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The greatest difference in my daily life is the ease I have found in acquiring my basic needs that was never the case before.
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 the frequent sickness that have made me not perform my daily chores.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up a live, this is because of the kind of chest problem that I have which a times attack me during the night thus worrying me a lot.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on building a kitchen and start a small business.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is starting up a poultry farm that I used to long for. I started it out with the money that I got through selling of farm products.