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.
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GDLive updates will be slower while GiveDirectly's Africa offices are closed over the holidays.
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almost 6 years ago
Merceline
received a $368 second payment.
"My life is much better after receiving the transfer unlike before. I have a reliable source if income unlike before. When I received the transfers, I spared KES 5000 to boost my second-hand clothes business. The transfers came in handy as my business was on the verge of collapsing. The proceeds were minimal and meeting my family's needs was a tall order. At the moment my business is bigger and better. I make more profit that is enough to meet m,y family's needs and even extra that goes towards my savings. I am happy and even motivated to pursue my dreams."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
William
received a $459 second payment.
"My life has greatly improved in that, I own livestock and a bicycle which I wouldn't be able to buy alone. In the past, I at times used to cultivate my crops out of season since I had to wait for other people's oxen to finish working for them. This in turn led to poor yields hence my family would starve due to food shortage. In addition, I didn't have a transport means for fetching water, taking my family members to seek medical attention and among others."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Lilian
received a $50 fourth payment.
"I was in my rural home when I first received my transfers. I woke up at 7:00 AM on that day and I checked my phone for any missed calls or messages, like I always checked every morning. I saw the Mpesa message and the message from Give Directly that followed and I was very happy as I was very broke and worried about where I would get money to pay for my transport back to Nairobi. I was very excited as I knew I finally had transport back to Nairobi, and also some little money that would sustain me at that time."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Zurubaberi
received a $453 second payment.
"My life has greatly changed as I was able to buy my personal farm land which will help in large scale farming and multiple food production. This relieves me from the issue of buying additional food. Initially, I only had one small garden that would not accommodate more than two food crops. This necessitated me to buy more food to feed my family yet it was not easy to make money at the same time."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Esther
received a $453 second payment.
"My life is better, because this transfer settled all my medical bills. I am now very healthy and strong as this transfer enabled me to seek recommended health services for my self. I'm going to plough my acre in time with my ox which will result to increased yields. Before, I was in pain because we couldn't afford the recommended treatment for my condition(I had a problem with my liver, ulcers and malaria). I did have an acre to cultivate instead I used to cultivate around the compound at the end reduced harvest that couldn't sustain my family."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Dinah
received a $453 second payment.
"My life is different in that I have been in position to acquire a cow as my asset. This cow will act as a means of saving as I can not just keep money in the house. In the long run, it will be my investment when it calves such that in case of any problem I can sell off its calf to cater for the need at that moment. It will also bring in daily income as I will be selling the milk to raise money to sustain the day to day expenses in my family as compared to before when life was really difficult as I had assets and had to just keep toiling in other people's farm lands to raise little income that would sustain my family."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Dorice
received a $23 twelfth payment.
"When I am done with this section of training on hairdressing, I would like to enrol for another advanced course on beauty which includes but not limited to pedicure, manicure and massage. This will give me a wide customer base when I open my own salon/beauty parlour which I plan to do as soon as I get the right training."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Judith
received a $453 second payment.
"My life is different in that, I have own a plot of land that I intend to construct my home being a single mother. I am hopping to have increased yields because of the acre I hired with this transfer. Previously, I was not at peace with my two sons because my family members looked at them as competitors for the little land they had. I totally didn't have where to cultivate hence I worked in people's gardens to be given a small portion to cultivate."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Sarah
received a $453 second payment.
"Currently, my life is different because I am filled with gratitude towards GiveDirectly for giving me money that I used to finally pay my son's tuition fees for his last year and semester in University level. He was now home with no hope of finishing his school. Initially, I used to pay his fees using the income I got from farming but this time, the production and prices were low and I had run out of options to get money to complete his fees."
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profile
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almost 6 years ago
Grace
received a $50 fourth payment.
"After receiving the transfers, I am now aiming high as far as business is concerned. I have a small cosmetic business and the monthly transfers will help me expand it. If all goes well I will hire a permanent and bigger premise as soon as the business picks up. From the proceeds also, I am going to take my daughters to a better school. At the moment they go to school which is not that good and it's because of my financial situation."
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profile