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 the next four months, the new goal I have for my life is to improve my farming. I am happy that of late I have been getting better returns that have reduced my household daily expenditures. Expanding and improving it will give me more products that I can sell to earn extra income.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I am among the lucky person in society to be in permanent employment as a teacher. I appreciate my job and I dedicate most of my salary to my children's education to give them a better future. Even though I earn a monthly salary, my farming has not been doing well enough to support my family's needs. The biggest difference in my daily life the support that GiveDirectly has given me to enhance my farming. I usually spent my transfer on farming to buy inputs, weeding and to hire casual laborers to help and my returns have been gradually improving.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expected my life to be better in the next four months in that I will have harvested some of my crops. I expect to have enough food in my store to take my family until the next harvesting season. I am hoping that I have renovated my house and will be more decent unlike now.
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Having intensified my effort in the agricultural sector, I have an additional goal to improve my old house. For a long time now, I have been living in a mud-walled house which has really been hard to maintain it's walled and the dusty floors. I have been putting aside some money to far to enable me to purchase some timber which I will then used in the renovation of the walls. In my speculations I expect the project to take at least four months from now since I have not gathered all the materials required to complete it at the moment.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Receiving transfers from GiveDirectly has really been impactful in my daily life. I have been able to start several projects and see them progress to completion with fewer or no difficulties. In the last four months, the biggest difference in my daily life is improved farming. Initially, I was much into subsistence farming alone but currently, apart from improving that, I have also been able to venture into livestock farming. Poultry farming has been so far the most productive since I have been able to earn from the selling of eggs enough to serve the daily household needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have completed the renovation of our house and would have embarked fully on farming. I also have a plan to venture into potatoes farming since it is the most profitable crop currently which takes the shortest period in the farm after planting.
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?
My life is quite different because my monthly budget has become implementable. the money I get is used to meet my daily needs for my family and keep the salary for bigger household development projects. For example, using transfers to buy food has allowed me to receive the whole amount of my salary because I avoided having to take salary advances, and invested in farming. I bought potatoes and fertilizer that would not have been possible previously. I am hopeful to make more money from farming than before Starting to receive the money from Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to furnish my house. I have a large house in which I plan to buy seats, sofas for it. I will be using the money from transfers to pay for the seats to make sure that I have enough furniture in my house.
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 living in a cleaner and more conducive house after improving my kitchen. I plastered the floor using the money I recived from GiveDirectly to buy cement and sand for the exercise. The kitchen is in a very good condition now and this makes household chores easier. The hygiene that came with it is immense because there is no more dirt and dust in the food from my kitchen.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My farm I ready for planting potatoes and failure is unlikely because I have all the inputs necessary. In the next six months, I will have harvested a fortune and this will give me a lot of money to meet my needs and even invest more of it in farming. I see myself being a very productive farmer because I will be using certified seeds for my production.
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 life is currently different from how it was four months ago because I am more optimistic about a happier and healthier future. I planted my maize on time because I received the transfers from GiveDirectly early enough. Moreover, I had adequate funds for purchasing high-quality seeds and phosphate. Still, I afforded to hire some individuals to plant the maize. Hence, I have been having more time to rest.
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 buy and install furniture for my house. Since I have been having lots of financial commitments, I have never managed to buy quality furniture. Besides, I intend to buy and install the ceiling boards on the remaining rooms of my house. I feel uncomfortable living in a house that is halfway constructed and has inadequate furniture of low quality.
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 feel happier and more hopeful for a huge harvest. This is because I planted my maize on time unlike before, thanks to the timely transfers from GiveDirectly. Still, I had more funds to buy adequate and high-quality seeds and fertilizers. Subsequently, I trust that we shall have adequate food for consumption by my family after the harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change drastically in the next six months. This is because I will be connected to the electricity grid. Moreover, I will have purchased a television to keep us updated and entertained. Still, I will be residing in a warm and more presentable house after installing the furniture and ceiling boards. This means I will be enjoying a higher standard of living. Additionally, I will be having more money spared to be used for other activities after accomplishing the two priority projects that I have. Subsequently, I will be more confident and optimistic about a good life after retiring from work.
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 has been better compared to before since right now i have a water tank that helps us with water storage and we are more happy. At least we can engage in other activities.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Yes i do. My plan is to plaster(cement) the floor of our kitchen for a little decency.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that i am more relieved especially since i am no longer fully depended on by my wife about the household needs. No i can do other things with my money.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect that in the next six months or so, I will be staying in a more decent house and the level of hygiene will have been improved from the plastering of the kitchen. I also expect that we will be eating more healthy and sufficient food and living a generally improved lifestyle.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
my new goals are to buy furniture for my house and to place ceiling .this will complete my living room and make it look descent.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently,my life is different because there is peace and happiness with me and even across the village. This is because everyone received this money and now people have the cash to meet their own needs.It is very disturbing when people beg from you and you are not in the capacity to help.It becomes a problem to everyone but since we stated receiving this transfers,this has changed. n
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months my standard of living will have improved in that i now have an additional amount to spend.Because of this, expect to be happier since i will have reduced stressful situations. I will have improved my house too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
the biggest difference is that my standard of living has improved.this is because there is a constant income.Being a teacher,i live in debts and loans and so my entire salary is used in servicing them living me with almost nothing to spend on my needs.this money fro GiveDirectly is a boost andmake me happy .
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 lacking enough money to finance my plans.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Afternoon is the happiest part of my day.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spent my transfer on boosting my works at home.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is having educated my children.