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 daughter had just joined the secondary school at the time of enrollment but I wasn't sure of how I would raise her school fee. Previously we relied on casual work but it wasn't reliable. I'm glad GD came to my rescue and since then I have been paying for her school fee with part of the GD transfers. She has been doing well in school because I have been paying for her school fee on time in most cases which have given her ample time for her studies. I feel so proud as a parent to see my child doing well in school. I'm hopeful that she'll have a better future. I have also been using the part of the transfers to meet most of the family's needs especially the basic needs. This has ensured that my family doesn't go without food as it was the case in most cases previously. This is how different my life is from how it was four months ago.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months of my life I have an additional goal of saving some money that I'll be receiving from GD to start up a business. This will save me from doing hectic work which is not good for my health considering my health condition.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Previously I could work for longer hours in order to raise money for meeting my family's needs. This consumed a lot of my energy and since my health condition doesn't require me to do hard chores, I would frequently fall sick. I'm glad through the additional transfers from GD I have been able to meet most of the family's needs without Having to spend a lot of energy to work for more hours. At least currently I can manage to get more hours of rest. I feel happy, healthy and rejuvenated. This is the biggest difference in my daily life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I'm planning to start up a business with part of the coming transfers. I'm expecting that it will have picked in the next months and hopefully, I'll be earning a better income which will improve my living standards.
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 because l am eating a well-balanced diet as compared to before when l was eating one type of food throughout. My children are also in school learning without worrying of them being sent home for the school fee arrears.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to start a business of selling fish as my source of income. Once I start the business I will be self independent where by I can also support my spouse in paying school fee for our children.
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, since I started receiving the money I have never gone to bed without eating anything being that I always budget wisely with the money I am getting, I have also been eating very well because I have my own money I budget with I how i feel like and I always eat what I want. The other difference is that I am able to pay for my children school comfortably without too much stress as I used to before, my children are no longer being sent home for the school fee arrears.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have started the business of selling fish and getting enough money to support my spouse pay school fee for our children.
11th 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 l am able to pay school fee for my children comfortably without any struggle.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have any new goal a part from paying school for my children and also to start saving for my project of building my house.
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 l am able to pay school fee for my children without to much struggle as l used to do before, my children are always in school as other children.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months l expect to have started building my iron roofed house.
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 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 the way it was four months ago in that I have become independent thus we are now at peace in the family because I do not have to ask my spouse for money every time. I was able to go to the hospital with the previous transfer and was diagnosed with ulcers and I had to be put on daily medication. I'm happy I can afford the medication and now my health has improved.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four motnhs of my life I have an additional goal of starting up a business so that I can have a stable source of income that can comfortably sustain my family.
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 I'm now more independent thus I no longer ask my spouse for everything. This has relieved us of the constant conflicts we used to have previously.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have saved money that I'm planning to use to purchase building materials which I'll use in the future to construct a new decent house.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 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 goal is to save these transfers for at least four months so that I can start a small business. This will really help with taking care of the family requirements and assisting my husband with the budget.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I never received because I now have hope of having a better house and living a less stressful life because the extra income takes care of a lot of our needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect to have a better house and will be living more comfortably as our income will be spent on other needs.
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 that I am happier and more hopeful because I will be able to take care of my problems without having to borrow.
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I face is not having a stable income generating activity. This makes it difficult to cater for my family needs. At times they are sent home for school fees and since I don't have anything to do to pay for their school fees they are forced to stay back at home.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when they to wake up and know that God has kept me alive. At that time you haven't stepped out to deal with the harsh realities of life
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers on building a new and bigger iron roofed house since currently I am staying in a small grass thatched house that normally leaks when it is raining making me feel bad for my children.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am most proud of is being alive today. At least I can afford to do casual jobs and fend for my children and grandchildren