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 life is currently different in that I was able to keep my daughter in school by paying both school fees and extra fees for her remedial classes. I feel good because she won't be sent home due to school fee arrears. This will give her ample time to study and concentrate on her studies. Apart from that, I also boosted my poultry farm by adding more chicken.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal is to improve my poultry project by buying a chicken mesh and more chicken. I realized this can be a good business because of the high demand in this region. Most people yearn for the indigenous species compared to the modern and fast-growing species. I want to take advantage of this opportunity and establish it.
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 I am confident and more trustworthy of my friends. The fact that I can take a loan from a friend or good from a shop without a problem says it all. This is because I am assured of the transfers every month and that whenever I receive it, I pay any dues owed by me. This has led my credit score to a positive score.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to be able to comfortably provide for my family. My family comes first and I need to make sure they have basic needs such as food and shelter. I also want to make good strategies so that my kids study well without being sent home more often for lack of school fees. I want to be in a state where I do not lack.
16th 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 in that I have been able to clear paying school fees for my children in secondary school. I was able to achieve this using the savings I got from our merry go round group. Due to this, they are no longer being sent back home hence their studies are no longer being disrupted.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goals for my life in the next four months is to build a chicken coop. This is because I want to expand my poultry project and their current house is small hence the need for a bigger one.
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 now have a helping hand in catering for my family needs. This is because I used part of my transfer to settle everyday expenses. This gave me an opportunity to spend my salary in other investment and in paying school fees for my children.
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 built a chicken coop. Apart from this, I will have expanded my poultry keeping project. This means that I will be earning more profit from this manageable project.
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?
Initially, I had to struggle to pay school fees for my children. This is due to the nature of my job. It could not meet my needs both food for my family and pay school fees. Mostly, I prioritize buying food. Because of the big arrears, my children were forced to stay home. Thanks to GiveDirectly. I have managed with the transfers to pay school fees on time. This makes me happy as a parent because I have not failed in my responsibilities like before.
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 start poultry farming. I will facilitate this goal by using transfers. I will be buying four chickens every month.
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 did not have enough food to feed my family but now I am able. My main source of income is doing casual jobs. The income from these jobs is not enough to feed my large family. Sometimes they could miss a meal in a day. Currently, I used the transfers to purchase food that can sustain us for at least 3 months.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect in the next six months to have purchased a dairy cow. I will use the transfers I have saved through table banking and also the income from the chickens I have.
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?
My life currently different is different since I have been able to join a merry go round group.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The only goal I now have is to start poultry 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 is happiness.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in that I will have started poultry farming and I will have also bought a calf.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 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 wish to start rearing chicken and join a merry go round in the near future with my fellow villagers.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is more happy and expectant of good things in the future. I am more hopeful than before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect that in the next six months i would have improved my state of living and and would be living a more fulfilled life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am happy that i was given a phone by Givedirectly that i am able to call and talk to my friends and family and i was able to pay school fees with the transfer.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
In 2016,my husband who was the breadwinner in our family fell sick and died after six months.This was the biggest hardship for me because at that time my children were in school and needed resources to sustain them.I even had two children sitting for National exams in that year and it was a very emotional moment for all of us because we were left alone by someone who always provided.Going forward,i had to stand in the gap and work extra hours to be able to feed and educate my children
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when i come back from work.Am happiest at this time because that is when i get to sit and talk with my children and encourage them since am the only parent i have
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend the transfer in starting a poultry farm from whose produce i will sell and help support my family
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
In June last year, i planted beans on my piece of land and from it i harvested 5 bags and sold 4 bags.From it I got sh 28800 which I used to pay school fees for my child in Secondary school.This eased the burden of raising school fees which i have been left to carry alone since my husband died.This is the achievement am proudest of
