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?
Life hasn't been as challenging as it previously used to be because, through the transfers from Give Directly, I have been able to comfortably raise money for my child's college fee. This has enabled her to concentrate on her studies thus she has improved in classwork. In addition to that, I have been able to comfortably meet the family's needs through GD transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a child who is yet to join the university in September this year. Since I do not have a reliable source of income, I now have plans of saving some of the transfers that I'll be receiving for the next months so that I can use them to purchase some of the equipment that will be required while she joins the university.
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 the pride and happiness I have for having managed to clear my child's university fee on time. This has enabled her to concentrate on her studies. This is unlike previously when she could be sent back home for college every time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Currently, I have a few goats but from the experience I have with them, they reproduce twice a year. For the next six months, I hope I will have saved enough money for purchasing more goats so that in the future I can sell some of the young ones in order to raise money for purchasing a cow.
14th 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 in that I am a happy woman who takes care of the daily household items and emergencies easily. Previously, I could depend on selling the farm produce so as to take care of my needs but since I got help from GiveDirectly. I have been able to juggle between taking care of daily needs and paying school fees for my children using my transfer and part of my sales. Although I still sell my farm produce but not as much as I used to do. This time round I have enough food during this hunger season because I did not deplete my stock for the benefit of getting money.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to see my son through his education. He had passed well and will be joining university soon. In the next four months, I am planning to save for his shopping and pocket money since I know that the Government will help us to settle the university fees but would not carry all the burden. I do not want him to lack anything because I will feel that I have failed as a parent.
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 managed to get my savings in bulk from the merry-go-round that we started after the GiveDirectly program rolled out and used the amount on clearing school fees for my son who is in final class in high school. I did not want him to be sent home due to fee arrears. Previously, I could sell my farm produce and pay his fees but I am glad that I finished the amount at once without selling my farm produce.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, my son would have joined the university. I will be a proud mother seeing my son pursuing his education like other children in the village. I will still continue saving part of my transfer so as to continue supporting him.
12th 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?
Apart from being able to pay school fees, I have never gone without food ever since I started receiving these transfers. Before the transfers, I used to depend on casual work which really gave very little income. This could not enable me to meet all my family needs and demands. Sometimes, we would forgo food just to solve other financial matters of the house like school fees and medication. The transfers have enabled me to plan well and since then, I have never missed any meal. My children are in good health and we are very happy because we always have food on the table.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
II have a dream of buying a goat before the end of the transfers which I will used as remembrance of GD. I will live to tell my grandchildren of how God visited us through GD which changed our lives completely.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference since I started receivign this transfer is that I have been able to reduce the fees balance my children had in schoo. They have always been sent hhome for school fees because I was not able to pay in time. I have always felt very bad and ashamed because I feel I have let my children down. When I first recived thisa transfer, I paid for school fees for my children and even though I have not cleared the whole balance, I am very happy they are not always sent home like before. I feel very proud everyday I see them come back home from school.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to ensure I clear all the school fees balance for my children. This will help me to channel the money for school fees on other activities like a business to boost my income. The profit I get from the business will be able to support me well with my family making it easier to meet their demnds.
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 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 how it was four months ago in that, I eat well and no longer sleep hungry too.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goals are; to pay school fees for my three children in high school and build a latrine because the current one is in a bad condition.
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 dress well and don't feel stressed over how I can take care of my daily needs.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that, I will have built a latrine hence I will be using a clean place. I will also be able to pay school fees for my three children easily.
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is now different because my kids go to school uninterrupted, something that makes me so happy.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Right now I have a goal of making sure that I build a water tank for myself so that my family do not have to experience water shortages during dry season.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I feel that there is a difference because right now I am able to pay school fees for my kids without so much hustle like before. I used to rely on farming as a way of getting some cash, yet it was not generating good income.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I know my life will change because by then two of my kids will have cleared their secondary school education so I will not have so much financial burden after then.
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 buy a water tank for water harvesting purposes and maybe sell it for income generation.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My current life is different from how it would have never been were it not for these transfer as I have managed to buy seeds and I am planting and hopeful get some good harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect that my daughter who is sitting her last exams in secondary will at least she will join high school as I will be saving some money for the same purpose.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that my daughter's fees arrears have been reduced. At least I am now looking for less the required amount of money at school.
Enrolled
access_time almost 7 years ago
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I find it very difficult to pay my children's school fees
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up Healthy
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I will pay my children's school fees and build a water tank