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 goal in the next four months is to construct a new kitchen. I am currently trying to change the face of all my structures to a good appearance. I plan to construct a more modernized one. the one I currently use an old-thatched house which is less hygienic for cooking meals
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 am much happier because I no longer struggle too much to meet my daily needs such as providing food for my family. Even when I don't get a casual job to do, I can use the monthly transfers to buy food. I am still planning on what business I can do so that even if Give Directly have finished their project in this village I will still be able to sustain my self and not go to my old living style
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectations for the next six months is that my life will have changed. I believe by that time that I will have completed constructing the new kitchen. The wellbeing of my family will have also improved since I will have accomplished most of my goals
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 different ever since Give Directly came into my life. Initially, I thought my kids would drop out of school. I have four children, some are in primary and others in secondary school. I was overwhelmed at some point and I was almost giving up. It had been a challenge raising school fees for them and buying food at the same with the little money which I earn from casual jobs. I am glad Give Directly came through at the right time and helped me out.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to save my nest transfers. I recently joined a merry go round that I believe will help me save the amount I want to save. I want to build a kitchen and I would only do that through saving some money. I am glad that I will soon solve this issue once and for all.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Currently, my life is different from how it was before I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. Now I no longer struggle too much to meet my daily needs such as proving food for my family. Initially, we used to sleep hungry especially the bad days where we earned nothing at all even after a long day of hustling. That is different now because even if I don't get a casual job to do, I can use the monthly transfers to buy food. I am still planning of what business I can do so that even if Give Directly have finished their project in this village I will still be able to sustain my self and not go to my old living style
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My next plan after constructing a kitchen prepare a seedbed for tea seedling. They usually take one year before they are ready to be planted. This will be the initial stage to long term investment as I will start getting the profits within a period of two years. At least I now have hopes of having a reliable source of income.
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 since I have drastically reduced the amount of energy and time that I spend handling casual work at my neighborhood. Nowadays, I am spending more time running my new business of buying and selling water jerricans. Besides, my children are enjoying ample time for their studies since I have paid their school fees on time. Still, I find that my dream of building a better house will materialize because I have purchased some trees that will be used. Finally, we are enjoying a better living standard because we have some chairs in our house unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal for my life for the next four months is to expand my business. I look forward to running a business worth at least 5000 KES. Currently, I am operating with only 1700 KES. I chose to expand the business to ensure that I am fully self-employed.
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 started a new business of buying and selling water jerricans. Consequently, I am enjoying a relatively higher income unlike before. Still, I enjoy some relief from tedious casual work of plucking tea and weeding for my neighbors. Overall, I am leading a totally different life unlike before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my life to change a lot. This is because I will be fully self-employed as a shopkeeper. I will no longer be handling casual work. Accordingly, I will be enjoying lots of freedom, rest, and income. As a result, I will be leading a better life with lots of confidence that I can comfortably provide for my family and educate my children. Moreover, I will be having more time and energy to spend with my family.
8th 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 different because I now have plenty of food in my family. I use the transsfers to buy maize for consuption that ensures that we dont stay hungry.My children can als study well because i pay school feees on time.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan to build a poultry house by ecnlosing it using a wiremesh. I laso plan to buy more hens dto keep.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the past four months, I have easily payed school fees for my children .in the past my chidlren could stay home hwen they are send to vollect fees bbut i could not raise.I now pay it on time and enebale them to study disturbances.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Over the next six months, I will be increasing my savings. I expect to save about 6000 In my merry go round group.I will use this to buya cow.
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 am planning to put up a modern spacious kitchen and also to plant 1200 tea seedlings worth KES 12000 by buying little by little until they are enough.I also intend to by a heifer by investing in merry go round groups.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different because these transfer has boosted school fees payment and maize farming because I have bought maize seeds and fertilizer.This would not be possible if you had not come.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change financially in the next six months due my investment in a merry go round group.I also expect to have bought my own heifer and to have started a second hands clothes business in the next six months.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that these transfer has boosted school fees payment and in terms of food there is now adequate food for my family.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In the year 2005, I suffered from a strange spinal ailment that lasted for about two years. I visited varied hospitals including Tenwek, Kaplong and Litein. Accordingly, I had to sell almost all my belongings including the only cow I had purchased to settle the ballooning bills. Luckily I was successfully treated and healed, though I was left with almost no belongings or food for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is around midday after successfully weeding or harvesting my crops. That means food will be available for my family currently or in the near future.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on buying a cow since I have none.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
In 1996, I leased 0.8 acres of land and planted beans using income from my casual job. Luckily, I harvested 4 bags - a great harvest I had never realized. I sold the beans and used funds to build the only house that we currently live in - I am proudest of that achievement.