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.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal in the next four months is to start a restaurant business in a nearby market. I will spend the money on buying wood that will be used to make chairs and tables. I have already accumulated enough money for this project. I don't intend to start big, I know it will grow with time. I only have to start with whatever I have and work hard to ensure that I managed it to the level I want it to be in the next few years.
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 freedom from debts. I have cleared school fees for my children just like the rest of the kids in the village. I was always under stress because I have two children in secondary and a few others in primary school. I used to rely on menial jobs sometimes both day and night as a night guard in residential houses yet I could not raise enough to settle these expenses. These transfers have enabled me to manage this issue and I always feel good seeing my children attending school just like the other kids.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe that in the next six months we will have harvested maize and beans. I know I will get a bumper harvest because I upgraded my farming methods this season. I believe I will get enough sacks that will sustain us up to the next harvesting season. I will also have sold the extra maize and beans to get income that will help me to establish and strengthen my business. It will also help me boost the restaurant that I started recently.
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 comparison with the last four months, my life currently has really changed. The money which we have been receiving every month from GiveDirectly has brought a lot of impact in both my life and the lives of all my family members. My wife is also a recipient; something which has boosted our togetherness in the household. Nowadays we can come together to plan a common goal. Her money has been majorly going towards school fees payment while mine have been going to the Mshwari savings plan and the remaining amount in buying foodstuff for the household. All these were not happening in the past four months a reason to thank God now for giving GiveDirectly a generous heart to help us.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
As we draw towards the end of our receiving period, it has been my prayer that I start something which will still sustain me after the end of the transfers. I started a savings plan where I have been putting aside 1500 KES every month out of the total money I have been receiving. The plan is to finally establish a small business. Initially, I had a scrap metal business where I was collecting over the village and selling to a common collection center in the nearby shopping center. I would wish to restart the same business since it was really profitable baring in mind that the products were readily available and at a cheaper cost. In the next four months, I am hopeful that I will have started it since my savings have grown to an appreciable amount at the moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Before receiving the money from GiveDirectly, we had great difficulty in paying school fees for my children in school. At then, I had a son in secondary school and the other four children in primary school. I had to toil every day in the casual labor and later on my farm to try and make the ends meet. When GiveDirectly came in, I was lucky to be enrolled together with my wife whom we are now receiving a monthly transfer of 2280 KES. Our second born child joined the secondary school and we are grateful that we have been able to combine what we receive and use in clearing their school fees. Seeing my children settle in school over this time and ability to clear the school fees is indeed the biggest difference in my daily life in the past four months.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My father was blessed with a large piece of land. After subdividing it amongst seven sons, every one of us got at least five acres. This piece of land for our family is big enough for our household to do several farm operations. We have been farming on the three acres and the remaining have been under livestock farming. In the next six months, I have a plan to purchase at least two heifers which I will then raise to be big enough then sell in aid of school fees. Investment on livestock is an easy one and I am hopeful that by the time I will be selling I will be able to register a good profit margin.
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?
My home Improvement is one of the differences that these transfers have caused in the last four months. I have bought timber that I will soon use to construct a house. My family has become large because my children have grown up and are in secondary school. I want to build a house that can accommodate and give them a room where they can make their daily evening studies. This will allow them to concentrate on their studies and perform better. I am happy that I have begun the process of preparing them for a better future by giving them room. This has only become possible because of the transfers I get form GIveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a plan to build a shop in my compound. This is because the nearest shopping center is about 2 Kilometers away. Building and opening a shop will be an income generating activity.
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 my children are learning properly just like the other people's children. It was always a problem to pay school fees on time because I get very little from the caul jobs I do. When I started receiving these transfers, being sent home has ceased. I used the transfers to pay their school fees which ha snow guaranteed them ample time at school.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have completed my home improvement. I will have completed the construction of a house for my children. They will be using their own room in the next six months.
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 currently different since I have Improved my house using GD transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to start a small business (shop).
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 GD transfers have helped me equip my house by buying furniture and embark on farming (buying farm inputs for example seeds and fertilizers).
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I will have constructed a business premise ready to start a business.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 7 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
The new goal that i have now is to set up a kiosk in my piece of land along the road, I also want to start saving which I will use to buy livestock now that I can get some money to save unlike before where I could spend all what I could earn mainly on fee.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that am somehow relieved of my duties, I can also meet other family needs unlike before where I had to only I could spent much of my income on fee only.This has given me hope in life and now my family and I are now happier than before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am expect my life to change in that in the next six months I should have livestock, be doing better farming in my piece of land since I will afford all the better farming material. I will be expecting higher return from my piece of land due to better ways of cultivating the it hence will have a better living standard.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that I now have hope that I will also be able to meet my daily needs and basic needs for my family.I now feel uplifted like other able members of the community.My secondary school children have a happier life than before since they can get fee through give directly transfer.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship i have faced is paying school fees for my children in secondary schools. I have two of them in secondary schools and my source of income is not that promising.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning because my mind fresh and can put everything to order well .
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers on my childrens' education and to improve on my farming
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is that i was able to buy a cow four years ago and has now multiplied and now i have three cows. This has assisted me alot in paying fees for my children.