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.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal, for now, is to put up a house. I do not have one now and I stay at my mother's house but spend at my friend's house. I always feel very ashamed whenever he has visitors because I have to again look for a different place to spend. I would not want to continue in the same way hence I want to have my own house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
before the transfers, I did not have any investment which I could depend on. Thi si is because I did not have any source of income which I could use to even start saving account. I used to live for the moment and is the reason why I was not even able to build my own house. This is why I decided to buy three goats as an investment. right now I feel so confident in life because I know my future will be better. I thank God for GD I am now motivated to face the future because I know I will never be who I was before the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be different in the next six months in that I will be having my own house. I have struggled enough to find a where to sleep for two years now and now that God has remembered me through GD, I would not like this opportunity pass me by. I have started buying building materials and before the next six months, I know I will have the necessary materials for putting up my own house. I will never be ashamed and struggle for a place to sleep.
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I believe that my life has changed a lot in the recent past becauseI have been able to buy more of the raw materials which we then use to process the finished products on a day to day basis. I hope that in the near future, things will change for the good.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a goal of ensuring that I build a new house in the near future. Before that happens I want to make sure that I buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber, cement, and sand.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference that I have seen in my life is that I have been able to boost my business by buying more raw materials which we then use to process the end products. Initially, the number of raw materials we used to purchase was quite low due to financial constraints but so far things are shaping up.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe that six months from today I will have already built a new house and moved away from this old structure. It is high time I got a new house and live a much more decent life.
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 different from how it would have been because I have been able to buy new bedding which I did not have before. I used to rely on my friend for everything. I used to share with him his bed because I was not able to afford my own. I have been able to buy a new blanket and mattress which I use in my friend's house with GD transfers. At least I am not dependant on him for everything.
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 buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails, timber which I will use in building a new house. Right now, I am putting up at my friend's house because I do not have a house. I would want to have my own just like my friends in the village and to be independent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My mat business is the biggest difference I have seen in my life since I started receiving money from GD. It was not doing well because I did not have good capital to start the business. I used a loan from our table banking group to kick-start the business and paying back the loan has been a hindrance in developing the business and my life in general. I would share the little profit I get from the business to meet my family needs and to repay the loan. Since I started receiving these transfers I have paid back the loan and the business is growing very well because I have been restocking every month with transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I want to boost my business so that I can get more income from the business. The income plus my monthly transfers will help me reach the target of buying the required building materials to build a new house.
12th 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 because initially, I lacked materials to aid me in making mats. So production was low and had little income. But now, I am able to purchase raw materials in bulk and even produce more mats.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I currently do have any new goals, but I am planning to continue purchasing more raw materials to help me make more mats and increase my income from sales.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I ventured into a matt making business. The raw materials were not easy to get so I was forced to produce less. Ever since I started receiving my transfers, access to raw materials has been made easier and this allows me to produce more mats in return, I make more income from the sales. This allows me to provide for my household with much more comfort.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am hoping that my business will have grown and will be able to earn much more income to support my family and even venture into poultry farming.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Four months ago I had very little savings but I have increased the capacity to a new amount which I will still top up as time goes by.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning on how to build a house of ,my own because right
mow I have none, for I still stay in my mothers house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to make a lot of savings every month in a table banking group that we formed in the community recently after the transfers started trickling in from the organization. So far I have been able to save 8000 KES.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Once I have assembled enough building materials such as timber, cement and iron sheets, it will be time to erect the new house, something that has remained to be a dream for quite a long time now.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Currently I do not have new goals.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have new clothes, We eat well and I have where I can get loan to fulfill my dreams.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have been longing for a house so that I may be able to marry and settle down as a family. I also plan to start up a business after settling down.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I used to have very old and torn out clothes but now I have presentable ones and feel comfortable going out anytime.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is,being unable to take care of my family when I was arrested and jailed for 8 months and denied opportunity to work.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening,when I am seated with my family as we share a meal together.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to build a semi permanent house back in my village, since I am homeless and currently staying in somebody's house.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is,learning a new skill on how to make mats and curtains using sheep wool. This will enable me get some extra income to help take care of my family.