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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24th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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?
My additional goal which I would love to accomplish with these transfers is to start a small business which will boost my income. I have gotten used to receiving money on a monthly basis without fail from GD and I would like to keep the same trend long after the transfers are gone. This is why I want to invest in a business for a stable 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 because of these transfers is that I was able to build a new house. I used to live in a grass-thatched house which was also very small and could not accommodate my family well. In most cases, I used to send my children to sleep in my neighbour's house because we did not have enough sleeping place in my house. As a result, I started small savings account with these transfers which I used to buy building materials such as iron sheets and nails. I have now used the materials to build a bigger iron-roofed house which can accommodate my family well. My children don't go to my neighbour's house anymore because we have enough space in the house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my goal is to have a small grocery business which I will increase to a cereals business with these transfers. I plan to use a major part of my transfers on savings on a monthly basis and when I will have gotten a good capital to start a grocery business, I will use the money on the same idea. As I will still be in the business, I plan to use part of profits for savings and together with the transfers so that I may achieve my goal of starting a cereals business.
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?
The difference in my life in the last four months is that I no longer go for casual work as before. In my life, I have always depended on a small income from casual work which was not only inconsistent but also very little. I could not even meet all my family needs with the income. Apart from farming, I had to boost it through casual work just to keep our lives going. It has been a struggle until GD came to my life. I no longer struggle and I feel life is fair now because of GD transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to start a business so as to boost my income. I would not want to go back to the struggles I used to have before the transfers. I want to make good use of this opportunity provided by GD.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have a new house. I have been living in a grass thatched house which was very small and could accommodate my family well. In most cases, I would have to send my children to sleep at my neighbors' house to find a comfortable sleeping place. Right now, I have my own house because I used part of my monthly transfers to buy building materials to build a new house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My new plan in the next six months is to start a foodstuff business. I want to have a stable source of income to sustain my family needs. Since I cannot be able to get employment now, I have resulted to having a business. I know through the business, I will have enough to provide for my family well and in time.
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?
Secondly, I no longer go for casual work of plowing for others to make ends meet. Since I did not have any source of income, I had to go for casual work to cater to my needs. This is because I did not have any source of income to help me sustain my needs. Casual work was the only way out. Receiving these transfers have opened my eyes and I no longer go for casual work. I use my transfers to budget well for my needs and I am glad all is well with me now. I do not strain anymore.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to buy household items such as seats, tables, and utensils. Since the ones I had were destroyed, I now want to buy new ones because I am sure the state of my house will ensure their safety and durability.
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 have a new iron roofed house. I have been buying building materials such as iron sheets, timber, and nails with part of my transfers which I used in building a new house. Before the transfers, I used to live in a grass-thatched house which was too small and the roof was leaking. Due to the leaking roof, my sofa set was destroyed and right now I do not have any seat in my house. Now that I have a new house, I know if I buy a sofa set, it will be once and for all.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I wish to start a shoe business. I know through the business, I will have a source of income which will help me meet my needs in time. I will no longer have to beg or depend on others and casual work to meet my needs.
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 I have a new house which is more decent than the one I had before. My living standards have also improved because I can afford to buy food at my house and we no longer go to bed hungry. I used to do farm labour jobs and earned a little income that I could not manage to meet most of my basic needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in life in the next four months is to start a business. I am planning to start a grocery business since it requires less capital. This would be my additional source of income alongside farming.
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 to build a new house. I had a small grass thatched house which was in a very bad condition. I used my transfers to buy building materials and to pay for the labour. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the support because I would not have done it on my own.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the six months, I expect my life to buy steel doors to fix in my new house. I believe having steel doors will enhance security in my house such that no one can break in to steal from me. I also expect that my business will have picked and will be earning me some income.
7th 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?
I will finally have the house which I have always been dreaming about and we have never gone without eating.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I would want to start up a business.
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 have started buying iron sheets and timber which I will use in building a new and better house than the one I have now which has a leaking roof.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would want to start a business.
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?
The new goals that I didn't have before receiving the transfer are to start a small business of buying fish at wholesale at lakeside and sell in the markets. Besides that I desire to open a small kiosk in my compound.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The difference is currently I am able to rest and work comfortable and earn from the small business I have started. Initially I had to engage in hard labor and at my old age I could get tired and this came with joint pains. The rains could affect me but I foresee myself being in a better house after receiving the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to be in a more comfortable house in the next six months and I will be feeding and dressing well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving payments from Give Directly is I am able to renovate my house. Currently my house is leaking hence will be able to fix the roof. Also expand the house for more space currently its small.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I face in my life is that my house is very small and the roof is grass-thatched so during heavy rains my household items get soaked in water.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is when I go to my farm to plough maize and beans. This makes me happy because when I eventually harvest the crops, I am sure of getting food and cash from the sale of the surplus harvest.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on building a better house as the one I am currently staying leaks whenever it rains, part of the transfer will be used in renting a piece of land where I can plant my own crops like maize and beans.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is that I managed to buy a dairy cow using my savings from table-banking. This makes me happy as I am able to get milk for my breakfast.