GDLive Newsfeed
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.
Andrew's family
access_time 2 years ago
Andrew received a $428 second payment.
"In my opinion, what GiveDirectly does well in this program is that we receive the transfers in lumpsum amounts. This helps for planning purposes in the future. Another thing that GiveDirectly does well is that the unlearned recipients are taught how to use mpesa. This has reduced the number of theft cases in the community as most of us managed to change our pins to a more secure code. To avoid household conflict, what needs to be done differently is enrolling all the individuals in the household. During enrollment, those individuals who did not have responsibilities by then were left out of the program yet these are the same people who steal from their old and vulnerable parents. Another thing that needs to be done differently is enrolling all the communities in a specific village for uniformity purposes and this will prevent too many complaints coming from the communities that are left out during the registration."
Rehema's family
access_time 2 years ago
Rehema received a fifth payment.
"My goal currently is to buy new iron sheets in order to renovate my roof which is dilapidated and leaks when it rains. My target is 22 pieces of iron sheets which I am hoping to accomplish through the transfers. I will be saving part of the money to buy at least two iron sheets every month. I am also planning to buy livestock such as goats and chickens to keep in my compound. These are assets to me that I can readily rely on when they reproduce and increase in number. Through the livestock, I will be able to raise fees for my two children as they further their studies in the near future."
Ronald's family
access_time 2 years ago
Ronald received a $28 ninth payment.
"I am so much grateful to GiveDirectly and how much it has been of great help to me and my family. Being a father of 8 and with two children who are still in their secondary and primary level of studies, I have received great support through GiveDirectly transfers. I have managed to support my two children in school quite easily without having to sell any of my livestock as I would do initially. Right now, I own more than fifty goats in my farm. This is to mean that I will be in a good position to sponsor one of my children who is joining college soon. My plan is to continue using the transfers that I get from GiveDirectly each month to pay school fees and meet other little needs for my family without having to sell some of my livestock. It has also helped me a great deal in making sure that I get back to my original position as a pastoralist. Initially, I had sold some of my livestock after I fell ill while working for a company in Nairobi. I fell ill to an extent of being admitted in hospital and undergoing a surgery too. This ate up all my resources until I had to resign and come back home to start all over again. I am so proud of the steps that I have taken. Despite the ravaging drought, I must admit that we have so many livestock that will enable us pay school fees for our last born son."
Jumaa's family
access_time 2 years ago
Jumaa received a $28 fifth payment.
Karembo's family
access_time 2 years ago
Karembo received a $28 ninth payment.
"The transfers that I have been receiving have been of great help in terms of paying school fees for my children, adding stock to my small business of selling mandazi(a form of fried bread) and also catering for my family’s needs. But my major goal is to expand my business to a big restaurant whose income would be sufficient to support my family without much struggle. I would never want the transfers to go in vain but to invest in something substantial that would help me generate income even in the future and provide my children with better education. To achieve my goals, I always set aside a little amount and by January next year, I want to have the restaurant in operation."
Khonde's family
access_time 2 years ago
Khonde received a $28 ninth payment.
James's family
access_time 2 years ago
James received a $28 fifth payment.
"I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the financial help. I almost halted my high school studies because I couldn't raise fees on time. I am happy that I completed recently though I still have an outstanding fee balance. My goal for the coming months is to clear this balance so that I can be allowed to collect my certificates, which are still withheld by the school. I am also planning to enrol into a computer college, to gain some skills over the next three months, which will cost Ksh.4000, as I wait to further my studies"
Sofia's family
access_time 2 years ago
Sofia received a $28 fifth payment.
"I am currently in form four and I look forward to passing my national examinations later this year to proceed to the university. However, am worried that my father may face challenges in raising my college fees. As a house construction worker, his tasks rarely come by, which leaves him earning too little to sustain my six younger siblings and me. My plan is to support and start rearing livestock, which I can sell in the future to pay for my university tuition. Particularly, I hope to have acquired at least seven goats by the end of the year."
Sadaka's family
access_time 2 years ago
Sadaka received a $28 fifth payment.
"For many years, I have been sleeping on the floor using rags as bedding. This is a tough experience because I have always felt pains all over my body after waking up. In the coming year and beyond, my goal is to purchase proper and modern bedding, specifically a bed and mattress. Similarly, I intend to venture into livestock rearing as a long-term investment for myself."
Ndoko's family
access_time 2 years ago
Ndoko received a fifth payment.
"I made the decision to save up the money I was getting from the organization throughout last year in order to eventually be able to go to college. I had completely given up hope because we had no money before GiveDirectly gave me the chance to return to school. In order to continue my education and acquire the skills necessary to take care of myself and my family, I have this year's plan in place. Once I enroll in the school, I will use my funds to pay for the subsequent terms. After that, I'm hoping to use the remaining funds to purchase a couple of goats and poultry."