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?
My prayer in for the near future is to have my health back! I am currently bedridden and this means that I cannot work nor provide for my family. I really wish to be a position where I can be productive like I used to do before. Meanwhile, I want to ensure that I take the medication as advised by the doctors and I am glad that GiveDirectly is with me through this journey. With the transfers that I receive on a monthly basis, I am able to regularly go for a checkup and buy the required drugs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been unwell for a while now and I am under some medication. The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am less worried that I am able to buy the drugs that I am required to take on a regular basis. Before, it was quite a challenge buying these drugs since they are quite expensive and I didn't have a regular source of income. Now that my condition does not allow me to work, the transfers help me buy food for my family. I am glad that GiveDirectly came into my rescue.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Since I am taking these medicine for a longterm period, most of the transfers will, therefore, go into medication and my wellbeing
16th 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?
I believe in the next six months I will have bought at least two sheep. Saving my monthly income with the intention of buying these sheep will be helpful to me. I know I will have accumulated enough money to buy at least three sheep to start with. Owning them will assure me that in case of uncertainties I will be able to handle the situation with ease by selling them at a higher price.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been unwell for the last two years. The left part of my body was paralysed and this impaired my walking. Therefore I couldn't work for my family due to this condition. The money that I have been receiving from GiveDirectly has been helpful to me. I spent a larger portion of this money to cater for my medical expenses. It also helped a lot in buying food for my family
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I would like to save part of the money that I receive from GiveDirectly for the next four months. I plan to use the savings to buy sheep. I opt for this as sheep matures and give birth twice a year. I believe that once I buy enough sheep, my living standards will improve. I will never be stuck financially since I will have enough assets that I can sell in case of an emergency
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, I feel that I am no longer a burden to my son. I usually ask for almost everything from him and at times feel guilty for asking too much. He used to support me before I got this transfer from GiveDirectly. I am glad because I was able to able to take care of my medical bill without asking him for any help. I even managed to purchase some food. Taking care of these basic needs on my own is my biggest achievement. I am grateful for the help I got from GiveDirectly. I managed to achieve a lot through their help.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 suffer from stroke due to the challenges I face in life. There was so much happening yet I was the only one who had to meet all these responsibilities. There were no means of how to achieve them which led to me getting sick due to too much pressure in my life. Give Directly came into my life and my life changed. I am more hopeful and ambitious in life. I believe that in the next six months I would have fully recovered and will resume my normal duties.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that I have managed to pay school fees for my son. Initially, I would strain my self in order to raise school fees. I could do several manual jobs but still, I couldn't get enough money to cater for all my needs. At some point, I felt like I was going to fail him and make him drop out of school by I thank Give Directly for coming through and helping me establish my self financially. I am happy to see my son in schools studying just like his peers. I am hopeful that he will now finish school.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I will buy a sheep. By saving the transfers bit by bit I know I will have accumulated enough money. I plan to invest in sheep because they multiply very fast and require minimum attention. Their food is also locally available. I believe they will always come in handy whenever an emergency occurs. Since there demand is high, I think investing in the sheep business is not a bad idea. I know it will sustain me and I will not have to depend on doing casual jobs forever.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I used to worry a lot with how I would raise money to pay for my son's schools fees. It got to a point I was falling into depression. I think that is what contributed to my illness. I had been diagnosed with a stroke that came as a result of too much thinking. Now am stress-free after paying school fees for my child. As a result, my health condition has improved greatly. I thank Give Directly for their assistance.
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 will have bought the dairy goat. I will not be buying milk anymore and the money that I could have used on that could be channelled to other projects.
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 can access medication easily unlike before when I could really struggle to get financial support from the well-off relatives and friends. I was diagnosed with stroke early this year which has resulted me in a condition that has paralyzed all my work. This lead me into more suffering and poverty because I could not even run the grocery business I had by then. At times I could stay at home with a lot of pains and not able to access medication due to lack of money. When I started receiving the money from GD, the whole situation changed. I began accessing medication with much ease and became less dependent on the relatives and friends. I have also managed to revive my business which is currently running smoothly through the help of my daughter. Despite the fact that I can not walk, I am able to fully acquire my basic needs from the income generated from the grocery business. In addition, I no longer suffer the pains as was the case before the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal for the next four months is to buy a dairy goat. The main aim for keeping this goat is for milk production. Buying milk has been so costly for me which has led us into frequently taking black tea as opposed to milked tea. Iam hopeful that if all go well, I will not only have enough milk for my family's consumption but also for sale.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
In the last four months, my family and other relatives could struggle so much to raise money to take me to the hospital. With the transfers, much of the struggles came to an end and the higher dependency ratio that existed reduced drastically.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 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 buy a heifer and sheep in the near future.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different because these transfers have enabled me to buy food and medication.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect have bought a heifer and also do crop farming from the subsequent transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that these transfers have boosted school fees payment and medication.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life was when my husband was sacked from his job as ground crew in Nairobi,he was the soul breadwinner and ever since then life has changed,it has really been difficult for us even to get what to eat,let alone educating our siblings,it has really been a challenge for us
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of my day is morning;this is because God has enabled me to wake up healthy and strong to take up the challenges of the day
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to start a poultry project,buy small chicks at lower cost and sell after six months,with this I will be able to get some profit and save for my future use
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am proudest of is when I managed to educate my first born son till he completed his studies i.e form four and university,he is now employed in Nairobi,he is now able to fend for himself and also to support us,am really proud of that