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?
I am currently taking part in a merry go round contribution within the village and once I receive my own contributions from the other members of my village then I will be able to accumulate this and other resources and be able to purchase a piece of land. I am a victim of marriage abuse that led to separation between me and my husband that left me homeless and landless. I was however lucky when I was given a place to stay and vend for my kids by my parents. It is for this reason that I am working hard to see to it that I buy a piece of land where I can build a home for my children and work towards improving their living standards.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life over the last four months is the school fee payment that I have been able to do without having to struggle a lot like I used to struggle before. With GiveDirectly's transfers I have been able to improve my grocery business as well as support payment of school fee for my children with the remaining amount of money. This has given me a great sense of satisfaction as a parent and given me the energy to even continue working harder to give the best to my children. It is through these transfers that I have also been able to hire land and put it under agriculture making us food secure as a family and getting the surplus to sell and earn extra income as well.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I shall have bought my own piece of land after receiving my merry go round contributions. This will give me an opportunity to build a home for my children as well as do my own investments that will change our living standards as a family.
20th 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?
I am planning to buy a small piece of land of my own. I will use the savings that I am currently keeping in a merry go round group that we started once we started receiving these transfers. I will top up with some that I get from other activities
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 I have had an opportunity to lease a piece of land. I am separated from my spouse and living with children in a small section that was given to me by parents and the piece is too small that I can't farm. I am happy that I am making progress with my farming. I was also able to buy some chicken and a sheep for rearing. Ever since I got separated, I have always worked hard to try and meet my children's needs. I was also able to pay for my children's school fees. I am glad that GiveDirectly got my hand.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to be living on my own piece of land. I am currently living in a small section that was given to me by my parents after we separated with my spouse a few years ago. Living here comes with its own share of challenges such as conflicts between relatives and such. Having my own piece will reduce such cases and also accord me the freedom to farm and do other activities. There is also the joy that comes with living in my own land as it is evidence of the hard work you put in. I want to improve my lifestyle and ensure my children are well taken care of by meeting all their needs and ensuring that they are happy.
15th 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 different from how it was before I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. Nowadays I am at peace because I have the means to settle most of my worries. I can comfortably take care of my children's school fees. These transfers have saved me from straining my self by doing several casual jobs in a day. I can now concentrate on the farm because I have enough time. I have also gained trust from my neighbors because I can now take goods on credit from a nearby shop since they know I get monthly income from Give Directly. Thanks to this organization for improving my credit score!
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have been saving part of my monthly transfers in a merry go round. Once I get the second round of the savings from this group, I want to buy my own piece of land. I have always wanted to have my homestead but I could not do that because I don't have land. I currently stay in my father's land and its not as comfortable as I would have been on my own because I cannot do certain things without asking for his permission. I also feel the land is small since I have several siblings who want a share of the same piece.
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 I was able to lease a piece of land. I had been saving my monthly income for the past few months. Since I don't have land I normally buy other people's produce during the harvesting season. This is normally expensive compared to if I had harvested on my own farm. I am glad that I managed to lease land. I will eat from my own sweat this time around. I was able to plant spring onions on this land because of the type of soil and the location it is situated in. Spring onions do well in that locality that is why most of the people in that region plant it every season. I have always wanted to do farming but lack of enough money and land to till has always hindered me. I am glad that I am able to do it this time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to be able to own a piece of land. This will allow me to do so many things that I can't do at the moment. I will be able to practice farming, build my house and even lease part of it in order to earn some money. I am also planning to buy a few cows. I consider them as double blessings since they produce milk both for family consumption and the extra for sale. If I accomplish all these goals I will be able to comfortably take care of my family.
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 since I started my own business I've been able to pay school fees for my children promptly and also provide enough food for my family without struggling a whole day.
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 ensure that I hire a farm to plant onions because at the moment it has higher yields and at the same time the demand is very high. This will enable me to get good profits so that I improve the quality of life for my family.
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 has been very good because I no longer go for casual labour jobs since I've started my own business. I used to work all day and getting paid very little which wasn't even enough to buy food for my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months for the better because once I plant the onions I will be able to get enough money to buy a new land since I have many children. I want to expand my farming activities as well so that I have a variety to depend on in case of drought.
7th 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 currently is different since I do not overwork myself anymore now days.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal I now have is to build an iron sheet roofed house.
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 since I now days work less.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will have built a house and I will not be doing some casual work anymore.
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 currently after receiving the transfers is to join a merry go round so that the money i receive i buy a dairy cow. This will help me in milk production both for my family consumption and also for sale
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been before receiving the money since i feel happy to having made a great step to own a chicken since i did not own even one.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six month to better since by that time i would have leased a piece of land and planted onions and maize. By doing this, It will have a great impact in my life since currently I do not have any. It will also boost my income as well as enough maize for my family consumption
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the money I received brought me hope that my life in future will be bright in future since I will not have to struggle hard to get money for food for my family
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I've ever faced in my life is staying away from my husband despite the fact that I was humiliated by him before getting separated. The kids keep on asking me where their dad is.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when I arrive home carrying with me something for my kids to take for supper. The joy on their faces while taking supper keep me energized as tomorrow's endeavours looms.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to spend my transfer on renting a piece of land so as to cultivate crops for subsistence use.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement am proudest of is that I've managed to built a semi permanent house and bought livestock for my family despite the fact that I am unemployed.