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?
In this country, it is said that primary education is free in public schools, but the truth is, that is not the case. I have four children in primary school and when the monies they are required to pay are combined, I pay a lot more than a highschool parent does. It has always been tough paying the required amounts due to low income which was mostly caused by the rains that were witnessed in our area months back. This is because I do water supply within my area and during the rainy season, the business stops because most people use rainwater. During those months, I could not invest my transfers on anything meaningful because my family depended solely on the transfers, including the fees, but now that I am back to business, I can set aside my transfers for other investment plans.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
So far, I pride myself in having invested part of my transfers on important things such as livestock, education and even a solar lighting kit that has made it easy for my children to read at night. Even though these are good enough to show the impact of the transfers in my life, I would like to add more goats with some of my remaining transfers because they will eventually reproduce and I will have a bigger change in years to come after the program.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
When I started receiving these transfers, I decided to buy a solar lighting kit on credit because I knew the transfers would enable me to pay for the monthly instalments even when I could not raise the money on my own. This has always been the case because I have never struggled to pay for the instalments and I will soon clear the whole payment all thanks to the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have plans of buying more livestock as an investment of the transfer which I can enjoy even years after the project. This might, however, be a bit tough due to some other critical needs that may come up within the rest of the period but I will be receiving the transfers, but I expect to stay focused on the plan and finally buy the livestock.
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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago before I started receiving transfers from Give Directly. I was able to repay all the loans which I had accumulated. People had started talking bad about me because I had stayed without paying the loans. They thought I would default paying the loans but however long it would take me I would still repay them. I am glad that Give Directly helped me to settle the loan sooner than I thought. I was also able to buy enough food using the transfers that would last us up to the next season.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy a goat. I decided to buy goats because they reproduce twice a year. They also require little attention compared to other domestic animals. Their food is also locally available and are on high demand especially in high-end hotels. According to me, this is a well-thought investment that will help me in the 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 in the last four months is that I was able to take my emergencies and needs eaily. Recently I was able to send my child to school when I got the transfer. He had stayed at home for four days but I am glad that I was able to take care of the situation with ease. Buying food has also been easy because I budget well.
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 will have bought a goat. This will increase the number of assets that I own. It will be an investment for me because goats usually have a short reproduction period. They normally reproduce twice a year. This means that they will increase in number very fast. I will be able to sell the young ones and use the money to settle my bills.
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
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?
There is a big difference because I have a lot of peace with my family because I do afford to provide basic needs for my family. We do not go hungry unlike before when I had not started receiving this transfer.I have a good relationship with my wife since I take her for shopping monthly when Ireceive my tranfer.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have no new goal yet because I am still working very hard to achieve my initial goals.
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 my children are eating well because I can afford to buy three meals a day unlike when we used to go without at times.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have plastered my house in the next six months because that's was I am working hard towards, because I would love to stay in a nice and decent house.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 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 do not have any new goals but I am strengthening my goal of saving as I can now save more which I started.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My current life is different in that my savings account has increased from how it was before with the money I receive from GiveDirectly. Were it not for these transfers,I could have never managed to.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my life to change with my house well plastered.
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 have peace of mind. I have faith that I will receive the money monthly and this makes me not to worry a lot.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The greatest hardship i have faced in life is when my first wife died. I was left with a two year old son to take care of which was not easy.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest moment of the day is when i get clients who need water.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
Selling water
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My greatest achievement is starting my water business, it has really helped me out in paying school fees for my children and enabled me build my late wife a house.