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?
In the next six months I will continue pay my school fee to staying in a school like other students and this will really improve my performance.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest in my daily life is that since I started receiving the money from give directly I am able to support my parents paying my school fee. I am able to pay fee on time and with ease as compared to before when I was depending on my parents to pay my school fee and they would fail to pay on time and this was leading to me being sent home for the arrears. I also no longer depend on my parents to buy my personal things as I used to do before, I also able to make a decision on my own a bout my expenditure.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months I am planning to clear fee balance that I have for the next term. This will saving my parents from struggling to pay my fee and I will also not be sent home for the school fee arrears. I will staying in school and learning like other children.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My plan in the next six months is to buy building materials such as iron sheets and timber which I want to use in building a house. I do not have one and I have to share at my friend's house. At my age, I cannot put up with my grandmother in the same house according to our culture. This is why I wish to have my own so as to have some privacy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily since I started receiving these transfers is that I have always paid my school fees arrears with my own money. I have always relied on my grandmother to pay my fees and because of her low income from cereal business. I used to be sent home for fees arrears every now and again. GD transfers have changed my story. I am no longer sent home as I used to be because I pay my fees arrears on a monthly. In as much as I have not cleared the balance, I have paid most of it and anytime pupils are sent home. I know I am not one of them.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I plan to continue paying my school fees arrears. I would want to have the maximum time to study in school which I can only achieve if I have paid my fees arrears. I would not like to be sent home as it was the case when my fellows were in school.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different from how it would have been four months ago in that I have new school uniforms and shoes. I have always relied on grandmother to provide money for my school needs. I have always had to put up with the ones I had because my grandmother could not provide money for buying new ones. With GD transfers, I have been able to buy new ones which make me feel very happy when going to school. I have all the school needs in time because of GD transfers.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES
access_time over 5 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 want to boost my grandmother's cereal business. This will help her stabilise financially and improve on profits which will, in turn, will give her an easy time handling family financial issues. This will help her pay school fees for others without much struggle as it has been the case.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have been able to pay my school fees in time unlike before. I used to be sent home every now and again since I depended on my grandmother to pay my school fees and her income from her cereals business was not much. She was not able to keep up with all the requirements of the house and pay my school fees in time. Most cases, we would have to forgo some meals so that she can pay my school fees. My performance was affected but since I started receiving the money, my performance has improved because I have plenty of time to study in school.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to buy building materials such as irons sheets, timber and nails to build my own house. This is because I am a total orphan and its time I have my own house since I stay with my grandmother and I also need my privacy.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The other way the transfers have been helpful is through buying school requirements such as books, uniforms, shoes and stationery. I did not have good ones since I had to go for casual work to help raise money to buy school requirements. My grandmother was not able to buy them because she had a lot to handle with her small income from cereal business. Right now I have been relieved from the struggles and I spend more time studying than going for casual work to raise money to buy school requirements as before. I thank GD for the transfers.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($44 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I currently have no new goals in the next four months. Though in a years time I am planning to construct my house given that I still live in my grandmothers house.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different because I am able to pay my own schools. This has reduced the burden that my grandmother had of paying my fees. She has since then diverted her resources to help boost her business and sustain the family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect an improvement in my school performance because I will no longer be sent home for school fees this will allow me to have a flow in my studies. As a family, we will live better lives in that grandmother's business will have an extra income due to the boost.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Being an orphan, I really struggle to pay my school fees. I live with my grandmother who runs a small kiosk to sustain the family. Upon receiving my recent transfers, I boosted my grandmothers business to increase her income.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship in my life was when I was sent home for school fees and took close to a month at home. My guardian was unable to raise the fee immediately hence I had to wait longer than I expected.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning before anyone annoys me and especially when everyone I meet looks happy and friendly to me.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on paying my school fees.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of in my life was my good performance in KCPE in 2016. I managed to score 314 marks which enabled me to secure an admission at Kitambo secondary school despite me coming from a humble background.