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 buy a sheep so that I would have remembrance of GD. Since now my children are home for the Christmas holiday, I would spend my next transfer on buying a sheep so that as time goes it will have grown and had offspring. This would save me when I do not have enough money for use as I will get to sell to get money for spending.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months, I have been spending part of the money to pay school fees I had four children in high school and in college. To me, were it not for Give Directly I wouldn't have afforded to pay their school fees. With little earnings which I got from my job which is shoe mending, I got to put together with my monthly transfers and spend on paying their school fees. Before people in my village were wondering how I would make to pay their school fees but thank God this shame was brought to an end with the money which I do receive from Give Directly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
People have been wondering how I manage to educate my four children without selling any piece of land which is most common in our region. My case has been so different and it will better in future in that I am thinking of venturing to farming so that I would have money for paying school fees through the sale of produce.
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?
It is with great thanks that two of my five children who were in secondary school have completed their form four. This has eased the implementation of other projects which were running alongside the payment of their school fees. We are now happier and doing our farming with renewed energy on larger pieces of lands making our lives different from the last four months.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Having done the hardest part of my assignment in paying school fees, I have enough time to start other minor projects as I further the search for school fees. I now have a new goal to establish a better subsistence farming whose yield will be adequate for both household consumption and the surplus sold to gather for the school fees. Our target production is beans and maize since their market value is good at the moment and the production cost is also less.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I started receiving the transfers when I had five of my children in secondary school. It was really hard for me to raise the school fees for all o them. Thank God three of them made to be the recipients also. We decided to join a merry-go-round with my wife together with all the three children where we were all paying 2000 KES monthly. We would only remain with 250 KES each which was meant for our household goods and personal needs for our sons. We were lucky that we took the first slots in merry-go-round contribution and on receiving the money we decided to clear a larger part of the school fee so that we may reduce the burden and at least concentrate on other projects. We are now in a better position with enough time to look for next term's school fee without any pressure. I am really proud to be a recipient since I have had the biggest difference in my daily life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, It is my wish to have cleared payment of all school fees for the remaining terms for my three children who are still in secondary school. Two of them will be completing their form four comes November which will be a relief to me. This would enable me to dwell more and redirect my resources to subsistence farming since that is the most productive sector as far as our farming is concern. I have a plan to lease more pieces of land to put under cultivation where I will be planting more beans, maize, and potatoes in some parts. It is also my prayer that all my children will pass their secondary exams so that they can join their tertiary level of education.
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 four months ago because we have adequate food for consumption in our family. This is after harvesting the maize that I planted using the earlier transfers from GiveDirectly. Moreover, we get eggs for consumption and sale from the poultry that I have purchased using the transfers. Finally, I feel happy that none of my children has been out of school due to lack of fees. I have managed to pay almost all of their fees unlike before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The additional goal for my life for the next four months is to pay all the college fees for one of my children who will complete his studies this year. I am struggling to ensure that his fee is paid on time so that he may be allowed to do examinations and graduate on time.
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 none of my children has been out of school due to lack of fees. I have three children at secondary school and two at a nearby polytechnic. As a casual worker (shoeshiner) who depend primarily on the unpredictable income, life has been a challenge with regards to paying school fees. When GiveDirectly came in to support me, I have enjoyed much relief, more so in the last four months because this is the only time that none of my children has been absent from school due to lack of fees. My happiness is to ensure that I support my children as they pursue their studies so that they may enjoy a better future.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change significantly in the next six months. I will be feeling much relieved from the work of paying school fees for my children since one of my children will have completed his studies. However, my real happiness and satisfaction will come after ensuring that all of my children have completed their studies.
7th 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 currently is different since I now have some chicken which I did not have before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The only goal I now have is to increase the number of my chicken so that when they have increased in number I can sell them and use the money to buy a calf.
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 happiness.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will have bought a calf.
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?
My new goal is to ensure that my children will not been sent home from school and these can be achieved by starting a merry go round that will help me in saving part of the money that when its my turn I will use it to offset large school fees balances unlike before I would struggle to raise part of fees as soon as they had been sent home.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different since am very happy and healthy.These transfers have impacted greatly on my life.I don't work very much thus no straining a lot. My self esteemed has rejuvenated since I don't borrow and my small wealth is intact because I am not tempted to sell them for fees.It has also raised my children hopes to study without interference.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months. since that I don't have a cow of my own but buys milk which is not even enough for all of us.I plan to buy a cow that will serves us with milk for home and for income generation which will also assist in paying for school fees and buying basic needs at home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My life is currently different since am very happy and stress free.I was passing through a rough time financially and my children had been sent home for school textbooks.When I received the money I saw a ray of hope in my children's education and used the money to buy the books and sent them back to school.My children were surprised since everything was instant unlike before it always take weeks for me to raise part of the money.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I have faced in live is when I found it difficult to get school fees for my children. This was so hurting for me and I had to take a loan in order to finance their schooling.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up and find everyone in the family healthy and happy.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers in paying school fees for my kids and in poultry keeping.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement in live is that my children have received education. This makes me proud because Isee a bright future for me and them.