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 theses transfers is to buy building materials for expanding my house. I built the house according to the resources I had back then but I feel I need o to have a house according to the family I have. This is why I want to use my next transfers in buying building materials for expanding the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I built a new house a year ago and since then I moved in with the old household items from the previous house. They were old especially utensils which I have been using for the past three years. I felt I needed improvement on household items. I, therefore, used part of my transfers to buy new household items such as seats, cupboard and utensils. Anytime I have visitors, I do not go begging for seats and utensils as I used to do before the transfers. I have my own and I have also found a good cupboard where I keep them safe.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I know I will have raised enough money to use in expanding the house. I plan to save my monthly transfers for the next six months and use them to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber which I will use in building another room to add to the ones I have now. At least my children will have a place to sleep and they will not have to walk in the dark to go find where to sleep.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a goal of buying the remaining building materials that I will use to build a new house.
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 been able to buy iron sheets in bits which I plan to use in building a new house. I have a very small house that can hardly accommodate the entire family and with the transfers, I now have hope if owning a new house soon. I could not be able to do this as I earned meagre income which would only cater to our meals leave alone buy any building material. The transfers have also seen my family expand on their farming as this is our main source of income. We sell the surplus to earn income and we also consume some. That is why I have invested dearly on it using the transfers by making sure I buy the best seeds and fertilizer and also hire casual workers to help in working on the farms.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I look forward to having a bigger house that will comfortably accommodate my growing family. My family has struggled to live in our small house and I think it is the right time to have a bigger one. The house will be the envy of the entire village but pride to my family.
18th 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 currently different from the way it was four months ago. Through the transfers I got from GiveDirectly I was able to purchase enough food for my family despite the financial challenges I faced at that time. In addition to that, my spouse had a miscarriage and after that, she became ill for two months. I'm really grateful to GiveDirectly because I was able to afford the hospital bills. I am glad that she has now improved and recuperating well.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My current house is not in good condition, the walls have fallen off and the floor is also dusty. I feel ashamed of staying in such a house. I also don't feel good when my wife spends so much time smearing and repairing the walls and floor every time. Therefore, for the next four months, I have a goal of purchasing building materials every month with the coming transfers so that I can use them to construct a permanent house that is easy to maintain and will last longer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The last four months were the toughest months of the year. This was the farming season and unfortunately, the crops didn't do well due to the unfavorable climatic conditions. At the same time, there was minimal casual work to be done. Since that is what I normally rely on as the main source of income, we would hardly meet our needs. The poor harvest from the last season made it difficult to even provide food but I'm glad I was able to provide almost all my family needs without any challenge. Thanks to GiveDirectly for making this happen.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My new goal at the moment is to construct a better house. I believe that I will have completed building and fully furnished the house in the next six months. I feel good because my wife will no longer hustle carrying heavy sand and doing the tiresome work smearing the walls after every rainy season
16th 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?
I can say that the last four months have been of pure blessings to me because I have been able to invest in agricultural activities that so far have yielded positive results. What I do is that I do not squander the little that I get from my farm because it is the same things that I use to keep my family afloat.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My plan right now is to be able to buy livestock in the near future for purposes of future prosperity. For instance, If I can save some little cash in the next few months then I should be able to buy around three or four goats which I will rear until such a time when they mature when I can then sell them out in exchange of some cash. The money generated from the sale of the livestock will then help me handle emergencies in the unforeseeable future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference for me I would say is that I have been using the cash to invest more in agriculture by hiring a few individuals who have been helping me to do the intensive job on my farm which I could not tackle all by myself. Once we get to the harvesting season then I can always be sure of getting enough returns on my farm investment which then helps me to pay school fees for my kids and also handle other financial needs in the family that may arise.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect some changes in my life which include buying livestock at the end of each month so that my stock of livestock increases significantly over the next six months. The more the number of goats that I will have, the higher the income I will generate once I sell them out.
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?
My life is currently different from how it was I no longer struggle to buy food and take care of my daily needs, my children used to wear barefooted and they also wear decent clothes even in school they used to walk barefooted because of lack of food.They look like other kid , lack of money.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to invest in farming since I know that, I will be able to get good yields that we will use as a family. When we have food at home we have courage to do other things and peaceful.
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 we managed to buy when the children opened school fees, and bought shoes and uniform. I used to fee stresses up and this coursed conflict with my spouse. They could stay at home for even one week, they could perform well because when they closed school they really performed well the three of them.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have enough food. I will have bought building materials ready to construct a decent house.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 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 in that I can manage to feed my family with ease and buy the Iron sheets for my house expansion.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to start constructing my house. I have never thought of this until I started receiving transfers from GiveDirectly.
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 ease I have received after I buy the Iron sheets. At least the money I receive daily from the casual labor I do,I manage to feed my family and purchase Iron sheets and the same time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change with my family staying a more comfortable and spacious house. My dream will come true.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 do not have any new goal at the moment except the goal of building a new house which I have been having for the past two years.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than it would have if I din't receive the money in that I have wanted to build a new house for the last two years but I have not been able to do it because I didn't have the money to do it. Now that I have started buying the materials required I have faith that by July I'll be having the dream house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect to be staying in a new decent, modern house of my dream.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is having a few pieces of iron sheets. This gives me the hope that very soon I'll be able build my dream house.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship I have faced in life is the year 2016 when I was a watchman at Maranda High school and some thives break into the stores and made away with over one hundred plastic chairs. I was arraigned in court and charged.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is on Saturday I can manage to go to church and worship together with my church mates
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on building a new house and also save some which at a later date I can buy some livestocks as rememberance for GiveDirectly
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement which I am proud of is when I got my first job and bought my mother a sofa set from my first salary