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?
In my village, we have been experiencing serious water shortage especially during the drought season. The waterpoints are extremely far hence very tiresome to bring water home for use. I and my spouse have been saving the transfers we get to purchase a water tank which by the end of the coming four months, we will have already acquired it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Over the last four months, My farming techniques have really improved. At the moment, I started cultivating onions because they are short-season crops with high prices in the market. The cost of maintenance of onions is also very low as compared to other crops. I have been cultivating beans which at times, I experience poor yield. I am now very happy because, in the next three months, I expect a bumper harvest
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change to be better in the next six months since with my onion farming project, I expect a good harvest hence more Income for my family use. I will also be having peace of mind because my family will no longer have the stress of water shortages and more so, the one I will harvest from rainwater will be very safe for my family consumtion
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
There is really a big difference now compared to the last four months. My daily search for money is no longer intense since I started receiving transfers every month from GiveDirectly. This has been a boost since the money has clothed us, build us a house and also bought us enough food in our household. We now live as a happy family with all things in order. We used to do a lot of casual labors but now we have stayed at home to concentrate on developing our own farms. We have managed to plant maize and beans thou the scarcity of rains has been a problem but we have great hope that everything will come to normal as we go along.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Nowadays our area had been prone to drought. This has affected most of our daily activities starting from our farm operations and also our livestock production. We have been thriving with no rains since 2018 December to date where the weather was marked by scarce rainfall which has never been sufficient for our farm operations. We have always been forced to fetch water from a far-placed river using our donkeys which have been consuming much of our time. Having seen this persistent condition, we have gotten an additional goal to purchase a large water tank which will act as a water reservoir in our household. We will be collecting the rainwater and storing them for domestic purposes.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Since I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly, I started constructing a new house in our household. This happened bit by bit since the money I have been receiving have been coming in smaller quantities every month. We decided to combine with my wife who too is a recipient and started buying materials over time. Starting from woods. We decided to spend all the transfers together with the small savings that we had and later on after sourcing enough woods, we purchased iron sheets. At the moment, the house is complete and we are living happily in a new house which is the biggest difference in our daily life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Since droughts are still on all over the county at the moment, our goal to buy a large water thank is still our priority. It is our prayer that in the next six months, that goal would have been accomplished. We have witnessed for a long time that during rainy seasons, a lot of water from our roof go to waste, we have a plan to install gutters all around the house so that whenever it rains all water from the roof is directed into the water tank which will indeed save us a great deal when there are no rains. We also have an additional goal to purchase a cow though it will take more time to be realized since we have just started the saving scheme which will help us in raising the money to buy. Thanks to GiveDIrectly for deciding to give us this money bit by bit since we get enough time to plan for every month.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Unlike four months ago, we have a new house. This has attracted lots of prestige from our community. Moreover, we feel healthier because our renovated house is less dusty. Besides, we have had sufficient funds for purchasing adequate and quality farm inputs on a timely basis. Accordingly, I look forward to a huge harvest - for consumption and sale of the surplus.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The additional goal for my life for the next four months is to conclude the renovation of our house and buy a water tank. I will save the funds from GiveDirectly to finance the projects. I chose to prioritize on acquiring a water tank because it has been too costly for us to get water. Nonetheless, the water that we collect from the river is less clean and safe for drinking and other household uses. Hence, I look forward to harvesting clean and safe rainwater.
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 gained more prestige from our more decent and good-looking house. I have been renovating our house using the money that I receive from GiveDirectly. Subsequently, we feel happy as a family. Besides, we feel healthier because our renovated house is less dusty and easy to maintain unlike before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change to the better in the next six months. This is because we shall be having adequate clean water for use in our home. Consequently, I will be spending less energy and time collecting water. Moreover, my family shall be healthier and safer because we shall avoid unsafe river water. Still, I will be saving lots of money from my business and the transfers that I get from GiveDirectly. Consequently, I will be more confident in supporting my last born through his studies and career path.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because these transfers have motivated to work harder to be like rich.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months to I am planning to complete my house and weeding of maize and planting of potatoes.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that these transfers have given me hope for completing a house earlier than I thought and has boosted farming through purchase of certified maize seeds and fertilizer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have completed my house and my maize will be ready for harvest hence source of money for completing my house.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I want to save the transfers that i get so that i can be able to start my own business of buying and selling livestock at a profit.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different in that there is more happiness than before and that i am able to look and plan into the future without the fear of probably failing to achieve what i plan for due to lack of finances.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect that in the next six months, i would have started my own business and improved my life in terms of what i eat and how i live just like my peers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that i am more optimistic that i am able to fulfill my plan of building a house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is when I lost a hundred thousand shilling through buying unexisting land from middlemen.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when am done with my daily duties and my all family is peaceful and happy.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to improve my business.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am proudest of is potatoe farming I used to do in the year 1987 when I produced thirty five bags in a half an acre piece of land which amounted to ten thousand shillings.