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?
Currently, the only goal I have for now is to continue buying building materials. I do not like the house I am staying in and would want to have a better one by putting up a new one.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
GD is the reason why I am able to handle most of my family needs well and with ease. Were it not for GD, I really don't know how my financial life would have been. This is because I used to depend on a small income from casual work which was not very consistent and paying very little. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been able to meet my needs without begging or borrowing. I always have money for my needs because I get money on a monthly basis from GD.
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 be having a new house. I would not be staying in the house with a leaking roof anymore. I believe in the next six months, I would have bought all the required building materials for putting up a new house. Thanks to GD for the transfers.
18th 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?
It is my role to provide for my family thus I always struggle to meet both daily household and the long term needs. The daily household expenditures have been too overwhelming for me to meet them and remain with some income to invest in other long term goals. Currently, my life is different from how it was since have been able to provide for my family daily needs with ease. In addition, I joined a merry go round as a saving plan with the aim of building a decent house when my turn comes. I am happy that at long last I have given my sons a decent house to call home that could not have been if it was not for GiveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have lived in an old house since 1950 that has slowly been worn out and becoming unfit to stay in. Its condition currently is worse since its' roof is leaking. In the next four months, I wish to renovate this house to make it more comfortable to live in and reduce the hazards that we are now facing.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I had looked down upon myself for quite so long due to the inability to build a good house for my son. I felt desperate and had low esteem in society since I was not worth in my society. When I started receiving the transfer from Give Directly, I joined a merry go round as a saving plan with the aim of building a decent house when my turn comes. Currently, The biggest difference in my daily life is the happiness and high esteem that my son's newly build house has brought back in my life. I am happy that I have played my role of giving shelter to my children through GiveDirectly
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Its condition currently is worse since its' roof is leaking. In the next six months, I expect to shall have bought the required building materials with the money I would have collected in the joined a merry go round. I wish to renovate my present house since it in bad condition. Then make my stay more comfortable to live in and reduce the hazards that we are now facing.
15th 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 the way it would have been if I had not received money from Give Directly. I have become stronger and healthier because I have been able to get a regular balanced diet. In addition to that, I have also been able to save some of this money and started purchasing building materials. Very soon I will be living in a decent house because of courtesy of GiveDirectly
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The house I am living in currently is old and I fear it might collapse at any time. It has served me for several years, done repair over and over until it can't be repaired anymore. So for the next four months, my additional goal is to save some money and construct a new house. This is only possible because I am getting help from Give Directly. I could not have solely depended on casual jobs and raise enough money to construct a house. I really appreciate Give Directly for coming up with the idea of giving out unconditional transfers
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 am now peaceful and ambitious in life. The fact that I am able to achieve most of the basic needs gives me a feeling of comfort because I'm able to purchase most of the needs of the family brings tranquility and peace of mind
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 constructed a decent house. The fact that I have already bought some building materials gives me confidence that in six months time I'll be staying in a decent house.
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?
Currently, my life is different because now I am expecting to have a bumper harvest because I used high breed maize seedlings. I believe I will get more yields compared to what I have been harvesting every season. This will ensure I am secure financially because I will sell a few bags of maize, It will also cut my expenditure on food.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I will have saved some amount to repair the roof of my house. It is old and leaks whenever it rains. I normally get stressed out during the rainy seasons. At times am forced to shift my bedding to one corner or stay awake the whole night when the rain is too heavy
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I spent the money I received recently to purchase high breed maize seedlings in preparation for the planting season. I am looking forward to planting these high breed seedlings to enable me to get a bumper harvest. This was not the case before I started receiving the transfer, I was not able to purchase high breed maize seed and the harvest I used to get was not even a handful. This will help cut cost on food expenditure. It will also help me earn from selling some of the produce.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have saved enough to repair the roof of my house. I will no longer get sleepless nights or get worried whenever the rainy seasons' approach. Thanks to GiveDirectly for changing my life.
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 from the way it was four months ago in that I have been able to meet the family needs without a lot of challenges.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months for my life, I expect to have saved enough money to renovate the roof because it's old and leaking.
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 been able to meet my needs without borrowing or asking people for support.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have constructed a kitchen for my spouse so thta she can get an easy time while cooking.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 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?
I did not have any goal before until I started these transfers. I have a goal of stalling a posho mill. With this I will be able to have steady and stable source of income.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Were it not for these transfers,I could have not managed to change my diets like I did when I received the transfers from GiveDirectly. At least I managed to eat something different after longtime of feeding on vegetables.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my living standards to have improved from the way it is now. I am hopeful that this shall come to pass when I continue receiving these transfers from GiveDirectly.
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 am able to change my diets. I have been tired of taking the same meal everyday. My family is happier now.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is lack of sufficient income to feed my family. This is because I am old and can no longer work hard as I used to.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening.It makes me happy to share the evening meal together because everyone is around we laugh together.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to use my transfers to buy building materials to repair my house. This is because it leaks alot during the rainy season.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement was to be able to come back home from Uganda where I had stayed for twenty years. It made me so happy because my family had since forgotten about me.