GDLive | GiveDirectly

Unfiltered, unedited stories

We’re committed to transparency and use our survey technology to collect and share real-time updates and stories in this live newsfeed.

Browse the real, unedited profiles of the recipients we serve, learn about their aspirations, and follow them to stay updated as their lives move forward.

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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.

over 3 years ago

Keter enrolled.

"The sudden death of my mum in the year 2016 was a great shock to me.my mum was the bread winner and a great friend to me, I had to stop schooling at form three because there was no one to pay my school fees nor gather for my basic needs.My mother was a second wife to my dad and my dad is now a very old man.I had to struggle a lot up to this level I am now."

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over 3 years ago

Mwenda enrolled.

"I have been replacing the roof of my house regularly, say after every 1 year because it's grass-thatched. This is so costly and I have wished to replace it with some iron sheets but this has never been possible due to lack of money. My children has been suffering from frequent colds since they are rained on especially during the rainy season. Receiving this money will mean good health to my family since I intend to spend utmost $400 of my transfers to have the roof replaced. The remaining amount will help me to buy oxen and an ox-plough to upscale my farming because as of now, I use a hoe. This will guarantee me more harvest and hence, food security to my household."

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over 3 years ago

Caren enrolled.

"I never managed to complete my secondary education, this was because my parents were not able to pay my fees, which made me drop out of school and depend on casual jobs."

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over 3 years ago

Saumu enrolled.

"My husband is physically disabled and doing hard work to him is very difficult. This has forced me to assume all his responsibilities and since I depend on subsistence farming, sometimes I feel more challenged in meeting our basic needs. Hence, I consider financial instability in my household as the biggest hardship that I have ever faced."

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over 3 years ago

Alexander enrolled.

"When I will receive this money I will build another house worth$400 now that we are now living in one house. Due to my old age, I am unable to work on casual jobs to earn a living therefore I will buy a cow with about $350 as it will help me earn daily income in future from milk production. I will also set aside $100 to buy food and clothings and save the remaining$150"

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over 3 years ago

Abigael enrolled.

"I don't have cattle at the moment as I depend on my parents for milk.I will use part of the transfers (350usd) to buy a heifer. When it gives birth, I will sell the milk (0.3usd per litre) and the bulls to earn income that will assist in educating my children.I will also practice poultry farming that will be able to produce eggs and the extra income used on food and to expand my maize business."

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over 3 years ago

"My household don't have a cow to milk at the moment . When I receive this transfers, I will buy a heifer (280usd) and save the cost of purchasing milk (3usd) for food and clothing.I will also build a house (200usd) since I currently sleep in the kitchen with all my 3 children and the husband.My private life is intruded and the soot affects my clothes and beddings."

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over 3 years ago

Joice enrolled.

"One side of my body is paralyzed and that means I cannot walk properly. Being disable is something that has made me go through a lot. I have always been subjected to a lot of mockery due to the way I walk and this is lowering my self esteem. Life is so worthless and I do not have anything to make me smile at all. Because of my disability, I was not able to get children and that means I am always alone."

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over 3 years ago

Stephen enrolled.

"The house that i am living in is very old,it has a leaked roof that cannot be repaired. When it rains it is very cold and uncomfortable to stay and sleep inside.Receiving this money would mean very soon i will have a good and safe house for my family. I am currently halfway building a permanent house but the money i get from my dairy farming is not enough hence i cannot buy all the building materials needed at once.I still need $1800 to finish the house.40 bags of cement at $250, sand costing$100and 40 pieces of iron sheets at $250 and $400 will cater for labour. It will be of great help to me."

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over 3 years ago

Alice enrolled.

"We live in a semi-arid area and for the longest time water for use has been a problem to us ,we go for long distance to fetch water especially when there is drought.I am a livestock farmer and they need enough water in order to produce enough milk.It means that when there is no water i get few litres of milk to sell hence will not be enough to purchase food and pay school fees for my two children in secondary school.I want to buy a 3000 litres tanks worth $300 to secure rain water and divide the grazing area into four using 4 barbed wires at $500 each this will ensure i have enough pasture for the cows. The rest of the money i will pay school fees for my children."

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