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?
In the next four months, I wish to continue paying for the course which I am currently undertaking. I started the course with the transfers and by the time I will be finishing, I will still be receiving my transfers. I would want to have the course as the main project by Give Directly transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I will soon have a stable source of income. Ever since I finished my secondary education two years ago, I have been at home not engaged in any economic activity. I was very vulnerable to the bad company from my peers since I was very idle. I really needed to find something to keep me busy. When I started receiving my transfers, I thought of how I could help myself. I decided to register for a mechanic course which I am currently undertaking in a friend's garage. I am glad am finishing in four month's time and from then, I will be having a very stable income from the job. I won't be idle anymore.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be different in the next six months in that I will never have to rely on others for my personal needs as before the transfers. I am soon finishing the mechanic course which I have been doing for the better part of this year. Without the transfers, I would not be hopeful about the future as I am now. This is because I did not have any income and was just at home relying on my parent for every need. When I am done with the training and finally get a job. I will have a bright future and because of GD transfers. Without the transfers, I would not be looking forward to the future.
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
When I relocated to town to take a course on motor vehicle repair, I neede to keep up with the kind of dressing so I bought new clothes and shoes to fit in better. I just realized how old and faded most of my clothes were now that I bought new ones and I am pleased with that because now, I do not have to like a villager or a poor child among other people.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Months ago I decided to take a course on mechanical repair with the hope of being able to later find a better job and provide for my family. I have no once to support me financially after my father deserted us, so I only have the transfers to rely on. For this reason, I do not have any additional goals for my life for the next four months other than focusing on paying for the course.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I had to drop out of school four years ago due to lack of school fees when my father who paid the fees disappeared from home and abandoned us. Things became tough for my mother who had to struggle to cater for our daily needs even though she had no source of income and only relied on small scale farming, so I had to step up and assist her. I had to take on casual jobs available within the village to earn some money to support my mother because I could not land any decent jobs due to my education status. This was very frustrating to me because the jobs paid very little and were very irregular, so I decided to take a course locally at a garage on motor vehicle repair knowing fully well that the transfers I receive will cater for all the money required by the tutors. My daily life has changed because now I have hope for a better future because the skills I am acquiring will benefit me later to land a decent better paying job and put me in a better position to provide for my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am dedicated to this mechanic course that I am taking and I hope that in the next six months, I will have mastered most of it so that I can start earning some money by doing some little repairs. I have not yet started earning any money from here because I am still learning the basics, but I am told that after some time, I will start earning as I learn which I am eagerly waiting for so that I can support my mother financially.
12th 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?
I am more different now as I can afford food for consumption. We can buy food easily as we have an easy flow of money. I can also afford to dress well and also pay my own rent. I do not have to depend on my parent for any financial support anymore. That is how my life is currently different as compared to the preceding four months.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new goal as I want to concentrate on paying for my mechanic course.
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 am more independent now. I used to be so idle and was involved in bad groups in the village. People often came to complain to my parents that I might be the prime suspect. I am glad that my parents do not have to struggle so much to raise money to pay for the course and because I am away from the village, they are not stressed about any accusations.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to save more and pay for my course and by then I would have started working as a full-blown mechanic to help raise income to help my livelihood. I look forward to changing the lifestyle of my parents.
8th 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?
Apart from being fully engaged, I have also escaped peer pressure from idle friends and the continued suspicions that were too much, more so when it came to criminal activities in the village. I could be suspected because I had nowhere to go or anything constructive to do. Now I have the course that fully takes my time. I am happier given that it is even out of the village. I was also able to purchase a solar lamp to help my sister use when studying and avoid the tin lamp that sometimes could go off unceremoniously for lack of kerosene and no money to purchase more. This could force her to go to bed earlier without even completing her homework which was not so good. My sister now has enough time to do all her school work because of the solar lamp serves her well. She can turn it off when she chooses to.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have a new goal in the next four months but just to ensure that I complete my vocational training in vehicle mechanics and find a place to work and earn myself some income.
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 am making myself useful. I used to be so idle doing nothing productive, loitering in the village and only relying on my parents when it came to meeting my needs. Currently, I have something to do, I am doing vocational training in vehicle mechanics. From this training which I am anticipating to complete in the next four months, I shall have gained skills in this area of expertise and secure a job and earn myself some income too. I will completely be self-dependent then.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Given that I only have around four months to complete my training, in the next six months, things shall have changed for the better. I shall have acquired the skills and maybe secured a job that will be giving me some income, or even I opened my own workshop God willing. There is no better feeling than being self-dependent.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am already taking a vocational training in vehicle mechanics. Were it not for this money,I could still be idling at home with nothing productive to do.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I see myself being one of the best mechanics around with the most customers.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Were it not for GiveDirectly,I would still be idling home doing nothing productive. This money made me start my dream course. This is how my current life is different from how it would have been had I never received the money.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to finish my course and become one of the best mechanics in town.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life was not being able to fend for myself and I had to stay alone for almost a whole year after my parents separated. With no source of income, I found it difficult paying for my school fees and personal upkeep.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening. When am through with my chores and head home to find my mother around and we get to sit down and share about our days experiences.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers on improving my own education. I intend to enrol for a mechanics course beginning next year.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement was being able to pass highly in my KCPE exams despite not having enough money for fees.