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 is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I currently have peace of mind because I can settle most of the bills with ease. I can now pay my children school fees and still provide for the daily household needs without struggling too much. In addition, I have been able to improve in farming since I can afford the inputs and pay labor. I expect a good yield for both household consumption and sales. Apart from that I also managed to buy sheep that I see them as added assets. I am hopeful that in the near future I will have a herd of sheep that I can sell to meet any financial need arising.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I spend most of my time on the farm and I love livestock keeping. I currently have two cows and I plan to add a heifer in the next four months. I prefer adding one since I have already started livestock keeping and I have enough gracing land hence I will not incur much. This will improve my milk production thus increase our family 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 in the last four months ever since Give Directly came into my life is that I am no longer worried in life. I primarily depend on farming and casual jobs to provide for my family and being the head of the family I always work hard to make sure that my family has their daily needs taken care of. I am happy and ambitious because most of my plans and goals are accomplished in time since I have the means to do so. I recently managed to pay the school fee for my children. I have been straining all this time to ensure my child doesn't drop out of school. I really thank Give Directly for boosting me. I really feel relieved after paying the fee arrears.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six month, I expect to have a good harvested since I have improved my farming culture. I will have enough food and surpluses to sell. I foresee better access to basic needs in the next months and more income to invest in other income-generating activities.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
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 in that I am currently more relaxed, have more time with my family and better access to daily family basic needs than before when I used to overwork my self under pressure to meet family needs. I majorly depend on casual jobs and the payment is too low for me to see it as a reliable source but having no other option to take I had to do extra to earn something better. I had to spend most of my time doing hard jobs only to come home something small that wasn't even enough for the daily needs. I am currently so happy this has changed with the help of monthly transfer from GD.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal that I have for life in the next four months is to buy more sheep to add to the three I currently own because sheep are cheap to buy and have a piece of grazing land that I can use to keep them. I prefer this since they take a short time to reproduce hence will have more to be proud of in the and to and better security for any financial needs arising in my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I primarily depend on casual jobs to provide for my family. The daily household needs and education for my children being major demands in my day to day life, meeting them is so challenging to me since I have scarce resources and too expensive. I had to overwork myself each day with little time to spend with my family or relax. The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding my current transfer is the humble minds and less casual jobs that I do since I have an income from GD that I spend on my family daily needs unlike before. I am happy I can provide for my family with ease each day and also have time to stay with my family unlike before when I used to be out looking for casual jobs most of the time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I currently have a reliable monthly source of income and being a farmer, I have taken a step to do more farming using the transfer from GD. In the next six month, I expect to have harvested maize hence will have enough food for my family and also my herd of sheep will have to reproduce hence will be in a better financial status than now. I expect to be happier than now since I will easily provide for my family and will be saving what I could be spending on food.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
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 am now feeling like a boss. I have leased some piece of land and planted maize and beans. Consequently, I am using the transfers from GiveDirectly on hiring some individuals to weed them. Hence, I am assuming the role of a supervisor, and thus enjoy some relief from the previous tedious work of weeding. Moreover, we are residing in a new better house - an iron-roofed house. Consequently, we collect rainwater for consumption unlike before when we used to fetch water from a nearby river. I have a new house.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new or additional goals for my life for the next four months is to buy either an ox-drawn ploug and two oxen. I prioritize on owing two oxen and the ox-drawn ploug because they will serve as an invaluable asset to me and my family. We shall use the savings that my wife and I will have accumulated to buy them. The oxen will be a crucial source of energy that is used to prepare our land. Additionally, they will be a source of income because I will be plowing farms for my neighbors.
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 preceding the current transfer is that we are spending more time working on our leased farm. I will sell the maize and beans that I have planted to gain more funds that will be used buying another cow. Besides, I am enjoying a significant reduction in the physical workload that I have since I can afford to hire some individuals to work on my farm. Hence, I am now feeling like a boss unlike before. I have got the chance of giving supervising workers - a role that I looks like a dream to me.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change significantly in the next six months. This is because I will be getting substantial income from casual work of plowing that I will be doing at my locality. Consequently, I will be leading a more promising and happy life with lots of confidence that my daughter will join secondary school next year. I will be having sufficient funds to pay her school fees. Additionally, I will be leasing and tilling more land following the increased income and the presence of oxen as a source of physical power.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because I can execute all my plans because I have the money.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to plant maize seeds this month and then buy a heifer.
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 these transfers have enabled to employ modern farming technology and buy farm inputs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to be financially stable because I now have adequate resources and food.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to invest in livestock. This will be an additional source of income for us. I plan to buy goats because they multiply fast. I will then sell them and get funds from that.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The current difference in our lives is that we happier than before. We have been having hard times financially. Now we can even afford farm inputs such as fertilizer seedlings. We buy, keep them and immediately the rains come, we plant in season. We are happy about this.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I see my life changing for the better. I expect my living standard to rise and I am happy about it. This will happen because my work will advance and I will get more sources of income such as poultry.
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 motivated to work harder. My burden is now lighter and I can work harder to achieve more. The transfer is a motivation for us to work towards a better life.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship i have faced is not being able to raise enough money to pay school fees for my children and sometimes they are sent home from school
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when i wake up and there i know i have another chance to work harder to feed my family
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend the transfer to start poultry keeping business
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement i am proudest of is when i had leased a piece of land and planted maize and beans.The harvest was very good and it made me very proud