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 is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The last four months have been easy months because I have been able to meet most of the needs which were challenging to meet previously. Amongst them are purchasing enough water storage containers for harvesting rainwater which has saved me the cost of water. In addition to that, I have been able to comfortably purchase family's meals without challenges thus we no longer go without food as it was the case before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I only have one seat yet I have a large family. This forces some of us to sit on the floor and in most cases whenever I have visitors, I borrow seats from our neighbors. It's normally shameful to ask for seats and at the same time, its' expensive because in case of any breakage I have to repair before taking back the seats. Therefore, for the next four months, I have an additional goal of saving the coming transfers so that I can use them to purchase more seats.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The last four months were rainy seasons but since water is a challenge in our area I felt it wise to purchase water storage containers so that I could harvest rainwater to cub the water challenge. Previously, I only had 40 liters water container which couldn't store enough water to sustain my family for a whole day. I'm glad I was able to purchase a bigger container which holds a 1000 liters of water. This has is enough to sustain my family for a longer period of time thus I no longer spend on the water.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I have a clay house but it's so dusty. This has resulted in frequent respiratory infections in my family. Therefore, in the next six months, I hope I will have saved enough money to purchase cement and sand which I'll use to plaster the house. This will reduce the amount of dust in the house.
15th 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?
Receiving the monthly transfers has improved my life in many ways in that through the transfers I'm now proud I no longer face challenges of obtaining water because I have enough water storage containers. In addition to that, I have been able to afford a full day's meal and decent school attires for my children. This makes so proud as a parent.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I constructed a mud-walled house some years back but due to inadequate funds, I couldn't plaster it as I had wished. It's so dusty and during the rainy seasons, the mud on the wall fall off. For the next four months of my life, I have an additional goal of saving some money so that I can use it in the future to plaster the house by buying required materials for plastering the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
We have a scarcity of water in our area especially during the dry seasons and it has been a challenge to get water storage containers. I'm glad I no longer spend on buying water anymore neither do I face challenges in getting water because I was able to purchase a water tank where I'm currently harvesting rainwater. This is the biggest difference in daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months of my life, I expect to have saved enough money to purchase most of the materials that I'll require to plaster my house such as cement, sand and enough money to pay the masons. I know through this, the house will be less dusty and I will have a strong and durable house.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have bought several water jerrycans which helps me in storing water especially during the rainy seasons. I have been able to purchase close to twenty jerrycans which are of great help in terms of water storage because water shortages in this region is so rampant and without such storage facilities, life becomes quite hectic especially during dry seasons like this.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a plan of building a roof for my kitchen which has never been there before due to obvious reasons of financial deficiencies. I have a plan of buying new iron sheets that I will use to erect a new roof on top of the kitchen structure as soon as possible before the long rains start pouring.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The cash has helped me achieve a lot of milestones within a very short period. First of all I have been able to get a toilet latrine which I never had before. Initially, my family and I used to go for long calls in my mum's toilet which is some distant from where my home is, and honestly speaking it was so embarrassing for all of us but there is nothing we could do, now that we did not have money to build a toilet latrine of our own. Things are however, different today because I have managed to build one of my own and I no longer have to walk for miles to relieve myself of a nature call.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to buy around two bags of maize so that we have enough stock of food which can last for more than eight months. Right now purchasing food is quite expensive because we are deep into the dry season where prices have really skyrocketed. I will wait for a few months until the prices go down then I will buy the maize in bulk and keep the stock for future consumption. For me, having enough food for the family is the most important thing before any other thing.
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life has currently changed in the the past four months is that I have been able to sink my own toilet and as a result it as improved the sanitation of my homestead since we no longer practice open defecation .
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to save up money in joint groups that we had started recently after starting to get GiveDirectly payment and use the money to build a house for my late first wife .
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life for the past four months is that I have been able to sink my own toilet and as a result it as improved the sanitation of my homestead since we no longer practice open defecation .
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to shall have built a house for my late first wife as a sign of remembrance and also last respect as well .
Initial 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 have a new goal of plastering my house. I have never imagined I could get the cash to do it but now that I'll be receiving mon ey monthly I believe I will do it.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from the way it would have been if I never received the money in that we now have enough utencils in our house so we do not have to share unlike before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have a neat plastered house that is free from dust in the next six months because one of my new goal is to plaster my house by then.
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 now have enough water storage because I used part of the money to buy water storage containers. I can now harvest rainwater which will save me from buying water for sometimes.
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 the passing away of my first wife who left me behind with two children whom I had to take care of alone. Loneliness engulfed me and the pressure of remarrying put me in the hardest situation. People stigmatized against me and getting the current wife was not easy. Life was tough on me.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when my children are from school, the wife welcomes me home from work and we share our experiences of the day.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfer on buying household food. My meagre income from motorcycle riding is less to cater for all the responsibilities that I bear. It will be a relief to me and malnutrition that affects my family will be solved. We have been living in conflict as a result of failure to provide basic needs but I now believe that love and harmony will prevail.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement in life is establishing my own homestead on my own piece of land where I have the freedom to put up my projects. The fear of coercion from parents is no longer in me. I have been able to see my family stay comfortably in the compound.