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?
After a successful season of farming on my farm, I am really motivated to keep going with the same projects. In the next four months, I have a new goal to lease another piece of land which I will specifically be planting beans in the coming planting season. In preparation for this goal, I have already saved a good amount of money enough to lease that piece of land and purchasing of farm inputs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Venturing in farming has seen our household took great steps in enough production of farm produce which has served both domestic and commercial purposes. We have been able to produce enough foodstuff for the household and on the other side, I have been able to sell the surplus produce in the nearby market to earn income. In the last four months, I have been able to purchase and plant a bag of potatoes after spending part of the savings on buying 10 Kilograms of fertilizers. I was later able to harvest more than 10 sacks nut was able to sell 8 of them. I found the project is the most profitable I have ever done and it really brought the biggest difference in both my daily life and the household's living standard. I am feeling much motivated to keep on investing in farming since it has proven to be the easiest income earner.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Our expectations in the next six months are really many but based on our priorities as a household, we expect to have bought a heifer in the next six months and if we will be having a surplus amount, we will be leasing a bit of land so that we can put it under cultivation alongside the livestock project we are starting.
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?
I really thank God with the current status which GiveDIrectly has put me in. In the last four months, I was really struggling to make ends meet but currently, I am happy that everything is in a stable condition and all I can do is to plan and watch things work my way. I used to toil the whole day in the casual labors under the blazing sun, sweating the whole day for me to earn some money and ensure that I feed my family. Receiving GiveDirectly's money is the best thing that ever happened to me since it really brought me peace of mind and great relaxation. Nowadays I am working on my farm projects without having to strain to work on people's farms.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Since I started receiving the transfers from GiveDirectly, my children have been so supportive in every project I have started. We have been planning together with each of us suggesting which project to come first after the others. In my mind, I have been thinking of a way to thank them and at least show them that I appreciate their efforts. I have finally resorted to using part of the savings from the transfers to buy them new clothing. Going forward from this month, I will be saving towards that as an additional project in my life. This to me will make them feel part of the program and at least rejuvenate their energies towards daily activities we have been doing together.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Walking to and from the river in our village has been tedious work not only to me but also to every woman in this village. Our sources of water are so far that once one decides to fetch water, she has to wake up very early in the morning before the queue in the river becomes longer. For my case, I always use a minimum of four hours to complete the fetching process so that I can engage myself in other household chores. When I received the money from GiveDirectly, I decided to purchase a large plastic water tank as a priority with a capacity of 5000 liters. This has really served the purpose and completely changed my daily schedule. I am no longer walking to fetch water from the river which is the biggest difference in my daily life since I bought the tank.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
For the many changes that GiveDirectly has brought it into my life, I still feel that there is still more than I can do to change my life further. I have a plan to ensure that in the next six months I would have leased a piece of land bigger than the one I currently own and start a more intense subsistence farming. I also have a feeling that with the number of livestock I have at the moment, I can as well work hard to see that I provide the right and adequate feeds to enhance milk production.
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?
Two months ago, I managed to buy a water tank. Before we would walk for a long distance to fetch water for domestic use. Again I didn't even had an appropriate storage container which would sustain us for days. After I bought the tank I harvested rainwater and am happy now we got water for use. The time which I would have wasted fetching water I can spend to do other household chores.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional plan is to plough a piece of land and plant some beans. after three months I would harvest and keep some for consumption and sell part of it to earn cash for paying school fees for my children.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because I can now afford to buy food for my family. As a result, we have the energy to work on our farm and do casual jobs as well. Now, we have adequate food for consumption since we buy in bulk using most of the GD's transfer unlike before when we used to buy in small quantities due to menial income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change a lot in the next six months because we shall have more land for farming and subsequently expect more income from the sale of farm products including milk and crops. After securing the additional acreage, we shall plant more crops and ensure our cows are well fed to provide more milk. Besides, I will be spending more time on my farm, and significantly reduce the amount of time and energy that I could otherwise be spending on my neighbors' farm. There be a switch on the main source of income from the casual work that I normally do at my neighbors' farm to being self-employed and working on my farm. Thanks a lot GD for giving us a helping hand at the best time in our life.
7th 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 currently is different since I now have a water tank to use in storing water during rainy season.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
At the moment, I do not have any new goal since I am now aiming at contributing to other members in our merry go round group.
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 happiness since I do have to go to river to fetch water since I now have a water tank.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will be through contributing money to other members in our merry go round group.
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 buy a water tank. We are currently suffering water shortage due to drought in our area. We walk for up to 4 km a day to fetch water. Once we have the tank, we will be able to store water for use and our lives will be better and easier.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different than it was previously. I am happy because I can even get a loan with assurance that I will pay it without fail. The transfers have given me the freedom and assurance to repay should I need a loan.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have a less strained life. I would like to have a water tank in the coming few months. With such storage facility, I can do farming and irrigate my crops so that come rain or sunshine I will have farm produce and have an income from it. I will be able to meet needs such as school fees and daily family needs without struggle.
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 at peace with my creditor. I was able to pay part of a debt that was really disturbing me. I have a child in school and I had taken a loan to pay school fees. The transfer really helped me to reduce the debt and the stress related to it. I am assured that I will clear the balance and that gives me a lot of peace.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship i am facing is raising school fees for my two children - one in secondary school and the other in a private primary school.Sometimes they are sent home and i have no money to pay and so they stay home until i can pay
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when i am done with my farm duties for the day and i feel i have accomplished it.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to use the transfer to buy a little stock for a canteen i had built
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement i am proudest of is when i purchased the piece of land where i currently live.When i bought it i felt i had achieved a great milestone