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 in the next four months is to start a small retail shop business. This is to boost our income so that we don't struggle financially as I have in the past. My desire is that my wife to handle the retail business as I work on the poultry business. I would want to invest as much as I can with these 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 since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a poultry project which is a very important investment in my life. Before the transfers, I did not have any form of income to rely on. I used to rely on an income from casual work which was not stable and not paying much. This is why I had started plans of investing through an income-generating activity so as to better my life. I was not able to accomplish the plan before because I did not have the resources to start any income-generating activity. Since I received the transfers, I have been able to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails which I used in constructing a chicken shed. The most important part is that I have been able to buy chicken which has used in starting a poultry project. By the end of the year, I know they will have matured and will have started the sales.
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 my own garage. My goal is to use the transfers to buy equipment with part of my monthly transfers so that I may have my own garage. The idea of registering for a mechanic course was to start my own garage since we do not have many in my area. I know I will manage to achieve my goal since I have never missed any transfer and GD has never failed to send the transfers. When I will have started the business, I know I will have a stable source of income so that I may be able to sustain my family needs and provide well. I would not want to go through the struggle I have gone through in the past.
16th 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?
I don't have a new goal at the moment. I am still saving with an intention to build my own house because this is my biggest worry currently. My brother had told me a few months ago that he is ready to marry which got me thinking of what next steps and what options I had with regards to where I will be sleeping once he moves in with his wife. Though I have no new change in my life from how it was four months ago, I am committed to saving my money toward meeting my project of building my house.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to open a barbershop business as an additional source of income. I am part of the breadwinner in my family because my mother also has no reliable source of income and she has to take care of us at the same time pay fees for my siblings. I have to chip in now that I have a business that gives me some little income, though what I get from my business is too little and cannot support us more comfortably, I have to work very hard and even do extra work to raise money that can sustain us at home and also stabilize our family.
Initially, I was employed as a barber, though I used to get little pay even though I used to make a lot of money daily for my employer. This is how I got the experience in running one, hence I believe and have confidence that I can run one without any difficulty because I once did the same job and I have enough experience to do it. This will give me an additional source of income hence I will be able to support my younger siblings financially with less difficulty.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life for the last four months is that I am almost meeting my target of building my own home. Currently, I am sleeping in my brother's house. I am a bit worried because he is soon marrying and I will be forced to move out. I don't want to ask for shelter in my neighbor's house because it is not comfortable considering we are not close and again walking in the dark is not very safe. I have been saving the little cash I get from my business and the monthly income that I always receive from Give Directly in my KCB Mpesa account. I am confident that I will have accumulated enough money for the next four months to build my own house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have a better house. Once I build mine, I will no longer sleep in my brother's house. Having a house will be a great transformation in my life simply because I now have my own house. The fear of being kicked out once my brother marries is no longer a problem for me anymore. I also feel good I won't be asking for shelter from my neighbors since to me it is ashaming.
In addition, I would also be having my barbershop, this is an additional source of income. The little I get from my business will help me in boosting my plastic household business. Having an additional source of income will enable me to be financially stable and supporting my younger siblings won't be a problem anymore.
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
8th 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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that, I was able to buy seats and other household items. Previously, I had no seats at all and other important items like a mattress. Now that I managed to buy them, Gd has saved me from the shame of borrowing seats and sleeping on a mat. I have also managed to build an iron-roofed house and no longer sleep in the kitchen.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to open a bakery shop. I used to volunteer in one of my friend's bakery shop and from that, I was able to gain baking skills and right now I feel more knowledgeable to start my own. When this materializes, I will be in a position of getting income that I will use to take care of my needs.
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 managed to buy household items like seats, tables, bed and a mattress. Before, I did not have them and used to borrow items like seats whenever I had visitors. The worst part of it was sleeping on a mat which was uncomfortable. Today, I am a happy person with no worries even when my visitors come over. I also love the fact that my house looks decent.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have started operating my bakery shop. I am certain that when this happens I will be getting a sustainable income to cater for my daily needs and long term goals even I after completing my twelve-year transfers from GiveDirectly.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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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 have been able to complete my course. I always wished for this and now I am glad I am a professional in baking.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect to be making money in my own bakery.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Were it not for GiveDirectly,I would have not gone for the vocational training. I would still be collecting money to help me reach the required amount. My life is currently different from how it would have been in that I am now a qualified baker within the shortest time I never imagined.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to purchase a an oven and open my own bakery. I will have have my own income from that.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced in my life was inability to pay school fees ,since my mother was jobless and unable to raise school fees for myself,so I had to skip classes in order to do casual labour and help my mother to see me through secondary school
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening,when am able to meet with my friends and talk about our future plans
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to build myself a house,and the remaining cash to further my education .
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The greatest achievement am most proud of is way back in the year 2013, When I was in Kakamega Approved School, training on bakery management,I was able to pass my exams.