A major experiment is giving Kenyan villagers free money for 12 years - here's what they say it's like

For the last 14 months, a group of 95 people in a Kenyan village have received about $22 a month from the charity GiveDirectly.

The money, which villagers are free to use however they want, is part of an experiment in universal basic income, or UBI. The idea is a radical solution to poverty that involves people getting regular paychecks, in exchange for nothing, to help them cover basic costs.

In November 2017, GiveDirectly expanded the 95-person trial to a much larger study of 16,000 people, many of whom will receive money for the next 12 years.

Villagers in the original trial have reported life-changing improvements from the money. Here's what a handful of people had to say.