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 biggest difference is that, I no longer have to purchase maize flour given that during the recent harvest season I had a bumper harvest. This will reduce my daily expenses as far as maize flour is concerned. It will also be a source of income for my household.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal is to complete the construction of my house. It has stalled for some time but I am hoping to set aside some amount for construction.
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 past four months Is that I have been able to purchase fertilizer and hybrid maize seeds for my farming. This has produced a bumper harvest that will take me for several months. I can now sell some and earn income to meet other household expenses.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am hoping to have embarked on the construction of my house. This project has really taken long and I am hoping to see it to completion the sooner the better so as to shift my focus on other projects as well.
16th 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?
The difference in my life in the last four months is that I have always had food in the house. I no longer struggle to put food on the table for my family as it was the case before the transfers. I have always used my monthly transfers to buy food in bulk which has always been helpful in managing the family. I am glad my family is very healthy because we take three meals a day and it is always a balanced diet.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to plaster my house. I would want to use my savings to buy building materials such as cement and sand which I will use to plaster the house. I am tired of smearing the house every month as it is the case now.
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 have new household items such as seats, utensils, and bedding. Before the transfers, I used to live in an empty house. I did not have seats and would borrow from my friends when I had visitors. My utensils were old because I have been using them for the last three years and the same as my beddings. When I started receiving the transfers, I saved and bought new household items. Thanks to GD.
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 plastered my house. This is because I plan to save part of my monthly transfers to achieve this goal. This is my next goal which I desire to achieve with the transfers.
11th 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?
Just like I had mentioned before, I already purchased and fixed new steel windows which means that my house is now more secured and free from burglary. I had always had the desire to have this in place but due to limited cash, I have never made the dream come true.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buying a few household items such as utensils that I have always lacked fora very long time now. I will also invest more of the money into agriculture so that I can get enough food from the land and become food secure. The most important thing in this life is having enough food that can feed the family for better health and strength.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to buy modern seedlings and fertilizers every planting season that have enabled me to get bumper harvest at the end of every other season. Before I started receiving this money I never had the opportunity to buy the fertilizers because of lack of cash, but currently I purchase close to ten kilograms of fertilizers that have always boosted my farm production, so for me this is a very big difference.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My long term plan is to start a small scale business that will sustain me into the future. At this old age, there is very little that I can do with money so the most important thing is to ensure that I have enough food to eat with my family. The business will of course generate some profit which I will be using to buy food even if the monthly transfers from GD will have ceased.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
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 l now have a very nice ventilated house as compared to before when l was staying in a very dark congested house.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal is to invest in large scale farming since l am very sure of getting enough produce for my future use.
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 l have manage to fix steel windows and now my house looks nice and well ventilated .
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l am planing to start saving to plaster my house.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
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 managed to harvest a lot from my farm after I used fertilizer I bought using the money I received from GiveDirectly. My family now have enough to eat.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months for the better after I shall have harvested and sold some. At least I will have enough to eat and sell some.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My current life is different from how it would have been had I never received this transfer in that I have managed to harvest a lot. Otherwise I could have not harvested much.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I do not have a new goal but I am currently building on the one I have always practiced,i.e farming. I want to cultivate large pieces of land.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 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 became sick and was not able to get money to pay for my hospital bills.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I have no household chores left to be done as I can now relax.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on improving my house which has a rugged floor,buy seeds and manure for farming.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proud is the seats I bought through savings in a women's self help group.