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 do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would save a part of my next transfer after spending on food so that I would spend on buying a dairy goat. Goat milk is very nutritious and due to my old age, I believe when I got to drunk goat milk it will still give me more energy to live longer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
For ten years now we haven't been able to harvest maize due to a disease which regularly attacks our crops every time we try to plant some. This cause food shortage in our area and this forced us to buy maize for consumption more regularly. Since don't have enough energy to work on my farm I would depend on my daughter to bring us food. But since GiveDirectly came I haven't been bothering her anymore and I have been able to buy food items which would sustain us until we got our next transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I do not have any other goal apart from spending these transfers on buying food for my family. Since I can't do my work due to my age, getting this money has brought a lot of changes in my life as I would solely depend on my daughter to seek casual jobs so that we can have food on our table. When I got some extra money after spending on food I would save to buy a dairy goat.
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my life to change in that I shall have been able to accumulate enough money and finally be able to buy the much needed dairy cow. After the death of the dairy cow that we had as a family, life has not been that easy for us and we are looking forward to having one in the near future.
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 can be able to get some of the most basic needs without having to struggle much like I used to do before. Receiving this money has enabled me to buy these basic needs and live a healthy life unlike before. I used to rely on casual labour to meet most of my family's basic needs but with old age, I have not been able to do most of these casual jobs which are quite demanding and requires a lot of energy sometimes. This cash has saved me from the shame of over relying on my children and other well wishers to get money that could help me meet most of my family's basic needs. I had a dairy cow that helped a lot in meeting the family's needs but it was overcome by a disease and left us helpless as a family. GiveDirectly funds came in handy to help us meet most of our needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional plans for the next four months is to be able to buy another dairy cow. The plan is to save this money over the next four months and get assistance from other well wishers in my family and be able to raise enough money that will enable us have a dairy cow. Since we are receiving the money with my wife then we shall combine our efforts to be able to raise the money needed to buy a highly productive dairy cow.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different in that I can now afford a descent meal in most of the days of the month without having to beg from my children or other well wishers for money that can be of help in seeing me meet most of these needs. With my age, I cannot be able to do strenuous casual jobs to earn a living and this money has really helped me a lot in meeting some of the most basic needs of the family.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have saved enough money to be able to buy a dairy cow for the household. I know that the dairy cow will bring relief to some of the familys pressing needs. I also expect to be happier than I am now at that time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
We are an ageing family and that means we are less productive in our household. Four months a go, we used to be fully dependent on our daughter. She used to buy food for all of us within the household. With GiveDirectly transfers, we have been able to reduce the burden on her. We can now afford to buy food for ourselves with the little income that we get monthly. I am grateful to my daughter but I am aware that she also has some responsibilities that are dear to her. I am proud now that I can rely on my own self, something I could not do before. This has been the biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I had one dairy cow that really assisted us as a family to get some milk for consumption within the household while we sold the extra milk produced. It is so unfortunate that this cow died, leaving our family hungry and with reduced income. In the next four months I want to ensure that I save at least KES 1000 per month. This is in an effort to buy another dairy cow for the family.
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Four months a go, we used to struggle a lot to put food on the table for the family. We almost entirely relied on my daughter who only works as a casual laborer to buy us food. We can now afford to buy food easily and have consequently reduced over reliance on my daughter. This has given her an opportunity to pursue other needs that are dear and important to her.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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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 will have bought chicken and rear them in my farm.
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 get money to buy food. Maize growing has not been of help because it is infested by a bad disease that destroys all crops.We nolonger harvest anything but have to buy it from cerals shops
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to continoue eto use mmoney from this transfer to provide fro my family.I may aslo buy sheep
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because being able to afford foodstuff for my family gives me joy. I no longer get maize from my farm but only to buy using the money I receive from this transfer.
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?
I plan to buy sheep and set up a poultry farm which are good sources of income.For these goals to be realized one must have money.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have bought textbooks for my grandchildren which will enhance their education and there is food adequacy of which would not be possible without these transfers.Money changes the life of any person for better because when you have it you can execute any plan you have.
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 better because I plan to buy a sheep and start a chicken rearing project which are sources of income for me and my family. Through these transfers I will also ensure that my family has adequate food supply.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is increased gratitude because my children are now back to school with new school text books and I have adequate food for my family therefore no more starving.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Raising my up my large family has been a challenge especially after retiring. It has been hard to provide for their needs especially school fees. I had to see all my livestock to educate them
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day because this is the time i spend with my grandchildren.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Am planning to spend my transfer on purchasing a dairy cow. The one i have belongs to a friend, and this transfer will help me to improve my diary farming.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
Raising livestock in my early days is an achievement am proudest of in my life. It helped me educate my children and i am happy for the progress they have made in their lives.