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 new goal, for now, is to buy a sheep. I would want to have an livestock which will be my investment and savings for the transfers. I will be able to sell the sheep whenever I have any financial crisis.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have new seats and new cushions. I did not have good seats in the house before the transfers. The ones I had earlier one got broken and had to beg for seats whenever I had visitors in my house from my neighbour. This really affected our friendship with my neighbour negatively because she felt I am asking for personal stuff. I did not have any other option and could not allow my shame to be seen by my visitors. With the transfers, I was able to buy new seats of my own. Now that I have my own seats, I am working on improving on our friendship. At least the transfers have given me some things she can borrow which really helps me in regaining our friendship.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be different in the next six months in that I will have my own livestock. In my community, livestock is considered a source of wealth. Since I do not have any now, I am one of the poorest in the village. I would not want to have this name especially after the life-changing opportunity I have from GD. After sorting my most urgent need which was buying new seats, I would also want to invest the money through livestock because they reproduce faster, easy to keep and their value increases on a daily basis. Whenever I will have any financial emergency, I would not have to borrow nor seek for help but will sell some of them to raise the money I need. I will leave the rest as an inheritance for my children too.
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I had an old blanket that was torn and light. I suffered the wrath of the cold nights especially after I decided to wash the blanket which tore it even more. I was embarrassed requesting for my son's assistance because he has a lot on his plate taking care of his family without any stable source of income, so I played tough and faced the cold for a whole month. When I received my next transfer, I bought a new blanket which has made my nights better.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I had a lot of chickens a while back, but they all died when a deadly flu struck months back. I have never managed to buy any more since then, but it is important that I do, so that whenever I have a visitor I can have a decent meal to offer them from the chicken especially when I have no money to buy food. I would like to buy at least two chickens to start off with which I know I can do within the next four months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My old age does not allow me to cultivate any more so I have to depend on my son to give me some of his harvests. This past farming season, he did not harvest much because of the harsh weather conditions that affected the crops. Months ago, he was struggling to fend for me as well as his family more so because maize prices had really gone up, so sometimes I could go hungry. He then advised me to be using part of my transfers to buy maize each month so that even when I did not have food, I would still have maize flour that can be used to make porridge. I took his advice and ever since I have never lacked maize and never gone hungry again.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
For a very long time, I have been planning to buy cushions for my seats which currently have very old ones. This is something I have procrastinated about for so long and I need to close it us soon so that I can move onto other plans. The flat old cushions make the seats very uncomfortable to sit on and look untidy as well, so I hope that they will have a better look in six months when I will have bought the new ones.
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 currently different from how it was four months ago because I am now sitting in a very comfortable seats as compare to before when I was seating on a very hard wooden thing. I also very chicken that when i lack something to eat can sell or eve sell the eggs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new additional goal is to buy a new comfortable blanket since I do not have something comfortable to cover myself while sleeping. I always use a very light sheet that I bought sometimes back, that when I use it to cover myself I feel very cold that I do not enjoy my sleep, I kept on waking up every minute.
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 manage to buy a nice comfortable furniture which I could not imagine that I would ever have in my life. Before i was sitting on a very pathetic seats that when a visitor gets into my house, he or she will feel that there is a real poverty in my house. Since I bought the seat I am very proud that anytime I have visitors I always feel like welcoming them in the house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have bought a nice comfortable blanket.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 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 because I am healthy and feel at peace. I am able to afford meals and other basic needs. Initially, I could struggle a lot because the person I depended on passed away. I had to leave the business I was doing in order to concentrate on our farm since no one was there to manage it while I was away, therefore, I had to sacrifice one of them.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy seat covers. My cushions are a bit old and not so neat so I need to buy something that would cover this mess. I want my house to look decent and welcoming. I am planning to save little by little until I get the full amount to purchase quality and good looking seat covers.
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 is that I have been happy and ambitious in life. I was able to start poultry farming which I am skilled in and easily to take care of in my old age. I know that I will be able to get extra income soon. When someone is financially stable you don't get stressed more often. There is that inner peace that you get when they know you can single-handedly take care of your needs and emergencies.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have bought seat covers and this will make my house look decent. I will easily be able to spread them hence my seats will not look untidy anymore and will no longer be embarrassed to invite visitors anymore.
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently from how it used to be because I now have enough money to buy food that keeps me gong as opposed to how I used to struggle so much in the past.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to use the cash to buy a number of chicken that I will be rearing within my compound going into the future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
OI have been buying seat cushions and food that has kept me going to date.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I hope my life will change once I get the chicken that I will be rearing and selling pout to my customers for profits.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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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 can now afford to buy my own food and depend less on my son who was my sole provider before I started receiving money from GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I hope to have bought enough iron sheets to re-roof my leaking house so that I can live in a better place.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Had I never received these transfers, I would still be depending on my son for everything,I am glad his burden has been greatly reduced by GD.Thank You.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I would like to save up some of these transfers and buy iron sheets so that my roof can be replaced because the iron sheets are old corrugated and leaking.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship am currently facing is not being able to provide for myself as before due to old age. I totally depend on my children who mostly forget about me or send me very little money that is not enough to sustain me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when my grandchildren are back from school and are around to keep me company. I am usually very lonely when they are not here.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on buying furniture for my house.I am also planning to save rest of it so that I can buy iron sheets and build a kitchen.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am most proud of is building my mother a house when I was still strong and able to do some businesses.