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.
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21st Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, the only goal I have is to continue buying building materials which I am buying with the transfers. It is the most urgent need I have which I have not been able to accomplish on my won. I am glad for GD because I see myself achieving it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been using my monthly transfers to buy building materials such as iron sheets which I will use in putting up a new house. Currently, I am living in a grass-thatched house which I built two years ago. Since we have been experiencing dry seasons in our area, it has been very hard to get grass to repair the house. The condition of the house do worsen on a daily basis as and I feel it is an indication I need to improve my house to an iron-roofed house. Most of my neighbours have also built an iron-roofed house and I would not want to be left behind. This is why I have been using my transfers to buy building materials for building a new house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My new goal in the next six months is that I will be having a new house built through GD transfers. On my own, I have tried raising money for building a new house but due to low income from casual work and farming, I have not been able to raise enough money to meet my family needs and even buy building materials. Right now, I believe I will finally have the house because I have made a significant step and since GD will be sending me the transfers for the next 11 years, I know I will achieve this goal with the transfers.
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?
Currently, I have a savings plan that helps in gearing towards buying more building materials that I will use to build a new house. I am also able to buy household items to help in furnishing my house and clothes for my children who had very old ones that ceased from looking presentable.
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 still concentrate on buying more building materials.
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 been able to save and buy building materials that I plan to use in building a new house. I look forward to owning a beautiful house that would be the envy of the entire village. This was just a faraway dream that I could not fulfil as I did not have any stable source of income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have built the new house in my own compound as I still live in my father in law's compound and also live in a spacious house. I have a very small house that hardly accommodates my large family. I also plan to buy household items to help in the furnishing of the house.
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?
Currently, I have been saving transfers in a merry-go-round. We formed the savings group to help us save towards fulfilling long term goals. Previously, I could not be able to save any money as I earned just a little from my small business which would only cater for our daily food. My family can now afford a healthy diet as we can buy the food easily.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new as I am still saving towards buying the building materials that I will use to build a new house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The big difference is that I have been saving the transfer in a merry-go-round towards buying iron sheets that I will use in building a new house. I have been able to save any amount of money and I can't believe that I can afford such an amount in a month.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months so much. Through the savings, I plan to buy iron sheets, pole, timber and nails to use in building a new house. I can only envision how beautiful the house will be once it is completely built. I also look forward to living in a house that I will not have to worry about the rains anymore.
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?
Currently, my life is different from how it was four months ago since I am always at peace. I am usually confident that in the event I am in financial need, I can easily approach my friends and borrow some money because I am able to refund when I receive my transfers. This has eased my financial burden unlike before when no one could lend me even 100 KES because they were afraid I might not be to refund them their money.
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 save my transfers and use them to buy twenty more iron sheets for building build a spacious three-roomed house. I am currently living in a grass-thatched house which is leaky whenever it rains. It is thus uncomfortable to live in. As a result, I always have to stay wake whenever it rains and ensures that all my beddings are temporarily kept in a particular corner, lest I risk sleeping on wet beddings.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months preceding the current transfer, the biggest difference in my life is having bought some iron sheets which I am planning to use to build a new house. Acquiring ten iron sheets in the last four months is one of the biggest achievement I have made since my husband passed on, owing to the fact that I do not have a reliable source of income. In fact, I had forgotten the dream of owning an iron-roofed house in the future.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to establish my own home. Residing in my own home will in itself be a big change in my life since I will be able not only to decorate it but also do some farming within my compound. This will also grant me peace which I had lacked after the demise of my husband, a situation that left me hopeless in life. The death of my husband, who was the sole breadwinner in my household left me with no option but to continue to live in a small leaky grass thatched house.
8th 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 family's general health has greatly improved in this past four months because we feed better than before.I have not had to deal with the frequent illnesses that they had frequently a while back.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
When I receive my share of the savings three months from now, I will construct a new and much bigger house that will better house my family. We are currently living in a small old one which is not decent at all.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I now find it easier providing for my family because the money that I receive from GD goes straight to savings which means that what I make from my business is entirely meant for the family provisions.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I hope that in six months time, I will have a better house which will give me an opportunity to focus on other things like better education for my children.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 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 goals that I had before receiving the transfer is that I want to put up a home so that one my son will be free to build his house in our home.
Secondly i want to expand my business since it is the only source of income we depend on.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has not change because I have not achieved my plans of expanding my business and putting up my home.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to expanded my business because it is the only source of income I depend on since my husband died.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I have not seen any big difference in my daily life since I have received the transfer for one month (455KES).
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is lack of parental care. My parents died when I was still a young girl and was forced to drop out of school and get married as there was nobody to take up responsibility of raising me up.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I prepare my children to go to school. I feel encouraged because education is the best thing I can give to them. I hope education will open for them better employments opportunities in future.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend the transfer in constructing a new modern and spacious house . I hope this will protect me from harsh weather during rainy season as my current house is old and leaking.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is purchase of chairs. I feel happy and encouraged to invite visitors in my house as they find good chairs to sit on.