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.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am from a humble family with no defined source of income. Our daily lives depended on the availability of casual jobs to help us raise little money for daily household basic needs. I used to go without food some days when casual jobs failed to show up. Access to personal basic needs was a big challenge too thus I had lived a stressful life. My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that even though I still do casual jobs, I am happy this is no longer my primary source of income. With the help of GiveDirectly monthly transfers, access to both personal and household basic needs is easier. I no longer go without meals and more so I have been able to improve my tea-leaves buying business thus I am hopeful of good life in the near future. Thank you GiveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal that I have for my life in the next four months is to buy a heifer. I have some savings that I am planning to add to the tea bonus I am expecting to buy a heifer. I prefer a heifer since with time I will have milk from for both household consumption and sale. This will reduce our daily expense in our family and increase my savings as well as the calves coming that I will sell in the future for other investments.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I was not lucky to take my studies beyond primary level due to the scarce resource we have in our family. Both my parents are casual laborers and making ends meet in our family is always a challenge. Since I dropped out of school in class seven, I have been engaged in casual jobs for my basic needs and little to support my family. I had started a tea-leaf buying a business where I used to invest the little I could remain with from my casual jobs as a saving plan with an aim of better returns at bonus pays but it didn't do well since my capital was small and unreliable. The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is the improvement and consistent investment in my business that the monthly transfer has given me. I have been able to invest on a monthly basis unlike before thus I have had more monthly returns and I expected better when tea bonuses will be released. This is my hope for a better future.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have invested some money in tea leaves that I will earn a bonus within the next four months from. In the next six months, I expect to have bought a heifer and will have a higher amount of money to further invest in tea leaves. I see myself to be doing better than now in terms of the tea-leaves business and reduction of daily casual jobs that I will be involved in this will always be my hope of a better future.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
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 get paid by the factory where I supply tea leaves. Due to this, I am able to meet the basic needs so fast unlike before where I could do casual jobs and the payment was small.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in life for the next four months is to save money in a merry go round group to buy a dairy cow. This will reduce the cost of buying milk which is very expensive. I will be selling some milk to my neighbors so that I can get money to use in meeting other household necessities.
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 business of buying tea leaves from the farmers and selling at the factory at a higher price to earn an income. Before I could do hard casual jobs and the income was small and I could strain so much to meet basic household needs. Nowadays I get paid by the factory every month and this has enabled me to expand my business. I know I will not remain the same as time goes by as I will strive to expand it and this will enable me to pay school fees and even meet the basic needs.
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 want to save money from my business to buy a dairy cow. When the cow reproduces, I will have milk for my family consumption and sell the rest to raise an income to meet my family needs. I will also be able to sell the calf in case I have a family emergency which I cannot solve on my own.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently has changed for good because these transfers have enabled me to invest in merry go round contribution.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to buy more tea leaves and maize farming
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 these transfers have enabled us to access adequate food and improved hygiene.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am expecting to have bought a heifer to act as an investment for future use.
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 want to buy and have a dairy cow of my own, This is because right now there is scarcity of milk and it is rare to have enough for everyone. This is a goal i initially didn't have.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
At a time like this we wont have planted anything in our farms due to lack of funds, but thanks to Givedirect for the transfer because they enabled us buy fertilizer and seeds and we have planted on time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Within six months, i want to be able to be feed our family well and live a more better life than i am living now. i want a upgrade of the life and things that we do now, i will have a cow that will provide us with milk.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference I see right now in my life is that we are able to eat well with my family members and we were lucky to have to plant maize on time which in the long run will enable us have enough food for all of us. It is a notable.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Back in the year 2000 was the hardest period in my life. Getting food at then was so hard since I was a scholar and both my parents were always found drunk. So coming back home from school and finding nothing fo eat was so humilliating.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day normally comes during afternoon hours when we are all relaxed after work.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on farming. Currently I have a plan to clear the maize plantation so that I prepare the land ready for the next planting season.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
Looking back at my life, the tea picking job I have been doing for the last 7 years has helped me a great deal. At the moment I can say that the cow I have in our field is a result of the payment I am getting from tea picking job.