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 is to save part of my monthly transfers to use in buying building materials which I will use in building a kitchen for my family. Currently, my children have come of age which we can't share the same sleeping place with them according to our culture and I don't find it satisfactory sending them to sleep at my neighbour's house. This is why I have the plan of building a kitchen.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Before I started receiving my monthly transfers, I had taken a loan from our table banking group. I had used the loan to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails which I used in putting up a new house. I was living in a grass thatched house and I felt I needed to upgrade hence I took the risk. I did not know when I will get the money to pay back yet I depend on casual work and motorcycle business as my main source of income. Before I was done with the building, I started building the house, I started receiving my transfers on a monthly basis which I have been using to pay back the loan I took. I am glad am done with the loan through GD transfers. I would not have managed to clear the loan by now on my own.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
After finishing the loan I have been paying with my transfers, my wife who has been jobless because she did not get to college joined college. And once again, the transfers have been helpful because they have been the fees for her as we join up our transfers on a monthly basis. Therefore in the next six months, I know, together with my wife's transfers, we will have cleared her college fees and she will have a humble time to study in peace without worrying about fees. She is currently training to be a teacher and in the next six months, she will have finished the course courtesy of GD transfers.
21st Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The plan I have in mind right now is to erect a new kitchen structure where my wife will be cooking and preparing her meals comfortably as opposed to how we do it today where we have to make a makeshift kitchen within the house, which of course is so unbearable especially during extreme weather conditions like what we currently experience.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been using the money to pay school fees for my spouse who has been attending a course for the last years. The main reason as to why I do this is because I know that she can acquire some skills and become financially independent in the unforeseeable future.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
When we finally have the kitchen structure in place then life will become easy because we will not have to be preparing meals in the house and keep on choking on smoke emitted from the cooking place.
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 greatest dream in life has always been to be independent and be stable financially. I always wanted a family where both I and my spouse were self-reliant and could help each other in settling household expenses. I'm glad through the transfers I got from GiveDirectly I was able to enroll my spouse in college. I have always paid for her college fee on time which has always allowed her to attend all the lessons. I believe she will perform well and get a job soon. In addition to that, I was also able to purchase a solar panel. I am glad I no longer spend money on buying kerosene. Life is now cheaper and better
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My spouse is still in college and I have been using the transfers to pay for her college fee. For the next four months I do not have any additional goal but to continue paying for the college fee so that she clears her studies without any distraction. I feel good she finally went back to school, she has always wanted to study and stop doing casual jobs. I don't regret taking her to school or using my money this way. I will think of what development project I will do once she finishes school
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Previously I relied on a Kerosene lamp as a source of lighting but it was costly since I had to purchase kerosene daily. At the same time, it wasn't bright enough to light the whole house. I, therefore, decided to buy a solar panel on credit with an agreement that I'd be paying the monthly installments using the transfers I get from GiveDirectly. I count this as one of my biggest achievement because I would have never afforded this if I only depended on my casual jobs alone.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Enrolling my wife in college has been my greatest achievement in life. I now have hope of her being independent after she finishes school. For the next six months, I expect to have completed her college fee. I know even if I die today my wife will be able to comfortably take care of my children because she is now empowered. She won't have to get married again with an intention to be taken care of by another man.
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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because l am now staying in my own home where I am comfortable to do my development without any restrictions, I am also now staying iron roofed house as compared to before when I was staying in thatched leaky house.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months I am planing to put up a kitchen for my children to have a place where they can spend their night comfortably, since they do not have better place to spend their night, they always spend their night at my neighbor's house where I do not feel safe.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I managed to put up my own home using give directly's transfer, because I took a loan from a sacco to build my house being, since I could not manage to save the money and the put up the house at once. So I was spending the money I was receiving from give directly to repay the loan that I took to build the house. I am now staying in my own home where I am free to do my development without any restrictions. I am also staying in iron roofed house as compared to before when I was staying in a thatched house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six month I expect to have completed building the kitchen and my children will be able to have a nice place to spend their.
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?
I feel proud because of GiveDirectly, I have managed to own a home. I have alot of hope in life compared to before when I had not started receiving this transfer before, I feel motivated in every plan I indulge in because I now have a monthly income. That's why I am still hoping I will pursue my Diploma course in Education using my transfers from GiveDirectly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am still saving the transfers I receive from GiveDirectly with the purpose of pursuing further education. I am a teacher by profession though a certificate holder, therefore my new goal is to work hard get money and go back to school to get a diploma certificate.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I am very happy because I now have my own home and this is the biggest difference in my daily life. Since I started receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly, I have been buying building materials like iron sheets, poles, nails and other materials until I got enough to make me put up a decent house. Eventually, I managed to put up my own home because I had ready building materials. Right now, I have freedom since I live in my own compound. Most of my agemates still live in their parents home and I am glad I did set an example to them.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am very much optimistic that in the next six months I will have started my diploma course in Education since this is the biggest dream I have ahead of me. I thank God through GiveDirectly I will have achieved my dream in life because by the end of my course I will be in a position to earn a good salary compared to what I am earning now.
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 different from how it was before because I now have a new house, something that I did not have before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal right now includes plastering my new house using the transfers that i will be getting in the future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been buying building materials bit by bit and I recently built a new house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I will have a decently looking house that will accommodate my expanding family.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 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 buy certified seeds and fertilizer for improved crop yield in the coming planting season.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different in that I can plan to buy certified seeds and fertilizer, unlike before when I could not plan but would buy seeds and fertilizer inconsistently due to inconsistent and low income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I plan to save towards a portable Irrigation Pump for small scale Agribusiness.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
There is no difference in my life for now since I only just received the first transfer of 455 KES.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I gone through is acquiring my secondary level of education. My parents were so poor that I could proceed to high school then. I repeated class eight thrice before getting a well wisher who finally paid my fees.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the evening when I am from work. I feel relieved and cool being with my family members.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfer on building my own homestead. I currently stay in my parent's compound with my family. Further, I intend to acquire an irrigation pump to start a vegetable farming investment. I will thereafter have a source of income to sustain my family.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is when I managed to pay dowry to my spouse's parents. It enabled me have a family foundation and a right to stay with her in harmony.