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 the next four months is to buy a television. Currently, I do not have one and I do feel very bad when my children have to go to my neighbour's house to watch. This is why I have chosen to buy one so that they can watch from my house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have been paying school fees for my niece whom I have been taking care of since her parents died. I have lived with her for two years and before the transfers, I used to struggle to raise money for her fees arrears since I only depend on a small income from casual work. Most of the times, she would be sent home because of her fees arrears. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been paying her fees arrears on a monthly basis which has really helped in clearing her arrears. I am glad next year, she will report back with nil fees arrears.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will still dedicate my transfers to paying fees arrears for my niece. I had decided to take care of her and she is almost done with her secondary school education. I am glad by the time she is finishing, I will still be receiving these transfers. I will always use part of my monthly transfers to pay for her fees arrears so that she can learn well just like her fellow students. I know when she will be done with her education and get a well-paying job, she will remember me and support me financially. I would want her to have the best just like my own children.
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?
My life is currently different from how it was in that, I have been able to finance my children's education easily courtesy of GiveDirectly's transfer. Without this, one of them could have dropped out of school. I will be forever grateful for the support GiveDirectly gave me. Seeing them going to school like other children uninterrupted makes me a happy and responsible parent.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new or additional goal at the moment. My focus shall continue being that of paying school fees for my two children since this is one of the main challenges I have had considering that the two are in secondary school. I strongly believe that education will give them better lives afterwards and is the best gift I can give to them.
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 the fact that I have been able to pay school fees for my children much more easier than I used to do before. To me, I believe that education is the best thing that I can give to my children. Having two of them in high school was a challenge. Previously, they could be sent home and we had to struggle to do casual jobs to support their education. I am glad that none of them have dropped out of school because of fee arrears.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my life to have changed in that I shall have started poultry keeping. I see this as a viable project that will help me in paying school fees for my two children. I do not want a situation where my children will drop out of school due to fee arrears. This project shall help me sustain my children in school and even meet other family needs.
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?
Currently, I do not have to work so hard to provide for my family. Initially, I would toil so hard to earn just a little income which I would save over a long period of time and use to pay the school fee for my children and also provide food for consumption. I also depended so much on my husband financially and this would brew some conflicts between us. I am now glad that I am more independent and we are happy as a couple too as everyone contributes towards the well being of the family equally.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to save some transfers and buy a wall unit that I plan to use in storage of my most precious utensils.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been using the transfers to pay the school fee for my child. The child gets ample time studying as I make sure I clear any outstanding fee balance in time. When we started receiving the transfers, we made an agreement with my husband that each one of us will pay school fees for our two children separately and I am glad it has worked out for the best. My children now look forward to a more brighter future.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I still want to save and pay school fees for my child until she finishes the secondary level of education. I also wish to but the wall unit by then so that I can store my utensils safely.
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 in that, I am able to give a helping a hand to my needy aunt. Previously, I could not have managed to chip in my aunt's school fee because I used to depend on selling charcoal which could not be enough even to take care of my needs fully. I am glad that she did not have to miss on education because of lack of money.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new goal in the next four months because I want to contrate on paying school fees for my aunt. I fear that when I start a new project I might struggle to pay the fees and I will not be happy when I see her being sent home due to fee arrears.
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 was able to pay school fees for my orphaned aunt who has recently joined high school. She has settled well and is going on with her education. My aunt had passed well but did not have someone to support her dream of pursuing her education. I am glad that I took this responsibility because of the monthly payment that I am normally assured of every month. When I see her go to school every day makes me happy because I did not know that one day I could have given a helping hand to a needy person. Thanks to GiveDirectly.
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 sheep. This is an investment in that with time, they will increase in number hence I will be able to sell some and use the money to take care of my needs or even the unknown emergencies.
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?
In the last four months l have been paying school fee without any difficulties.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to save and buy water tank since there is water shortage in our area.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in the last four months is that l have been paying for my daughter school fee without any difficulties.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to continue saving to buy water tank.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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?
The new goal that I did not have before is to buy a Television set. I am planning to save the money till it's enough,then I will use some of the monthly payments to pay for the monthly TV subscriptions.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been because I am able to comfortably provide for my family unlike before that it was a struggle.
Before,I completely depended on my husband for everything,but now I can say that I am party independent which feels good.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my lifestyle and health to change for the better.This is because I will be able to buy more household items with my transfers and better food for my family which means better health.
My children will also be more comfortable in school as their school fees will be paid on time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I tarted receiving payments is that my burden has been reduced because now,I have money to buy household requirements.Whenever I don't have the money,I can comfortably borrow knowing that at the end of the month,I will receive money from GD and clear the dept.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced was when my second born son suddenly passed away in the year 2009.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is late in the evening when gathered together with my family members preparing supper as we share our experiences of the day.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to use the transfer to pay my tailoring course fee so that I have my own self employment. This will help in ensuring that the family income is increased thus improvement in living conditions.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement so far in life was when I bought a goat which later reproduced to fourteen at the time I sold them. We managed to buy other farm equipment that we use till today in feeding our family.