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.
Stages:
 
Enrollment
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Esther's Profile
Esther's family
Esther
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
60
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
attach_money
 
Follow to be updated on Esther's next check-in.
 
26th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months my plans is to continue taking part in the merry go round and build a new house- a kitchen. My husband has been using his transfers to buy livestock that will help us in case of any emerging financial needs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is living in my newly constructed house. my active participation in merry go round with aid of the transfers enabled me to raise enough funds for construction. I had one grass thatched house with leaking roof and my husband was unable to raise enough money due to his poor health condition. I later got sick and did very little in terms of casual work to raise income that was required and was always looking forward to the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have completed the construction of the kitchen. We expect to be more economically empowered by practicing improved livestock rearing and crop farming.
 
24th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
One of the additional goals that I have in line with the monthly transfers that I receive is to complete my newly built house. I have been able to build a new house but I have not yet completed its construction. I plan to do this over the next four months by accumulating money that will enable me cement the floor of this house. This, I am optimistic shall be realized over the next four months with the help of this monthly transfers.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life that has occurred over the last four months is the cereal business that I have been able to start. I had always desired to run a business of cereal selling but due to lack of starting capital, I had not been able to do this and with GiveDirectly money, I made a conscious decision to start this business. It has since picked up over the last four months and I am already experiencing good profits. I look forward to making more profits in the long run and making my life with that of my family even better.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my life to change in that I shall have more livestock to keep within my household as well as have an established business that will help me and my family be more financially independent. The livestock to keep shall empower me and enable me to be financially stable in the long run as well as meet other family needs or expenses with much ease unlike before.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
attach_money
 
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 my family can now get their basic needs on time. Also, I can now afford to buy for my family meat at least once a week which was rare before. This is because I have been able to boost my business using my transfers. This has led to an increase in my daily profits from the business. Seeing my family happy and healthy because they get a balanced diet makes my heart be at peace.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goal in life is to build a spacious iron sheet house for my family. The one I am currently living in is grass-thatched and I have to go to the river to fetch water even during the rainy season. Having an iron sheet thatched house will allow me to collect rainwater for domestic use especially during the rainy season.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I have been able to buy a dairy cow. My spouse and I used our savings collectively to achieve this. When it reproduces, buying milk from my neighbors will cease. Owning this daily cow has earned my family the respect the family's with cows are given in our community.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe that my life will have changed in the next six months. I am optimistic that my business will have grown than how it is now hence my income will have increased. Also, I believe that I will have bought enough materials to use in building a house for my family.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
There is a really great difference in my life now compared to the past four months. Before we were struggling as parents to feed our children but now we have adequate food in our household. Our state of happiness has really been elevated and nowadays you would find us jovial and working hard with renewed energy knowing that all is well. We used to live in debts both from the shop and also from my neighbors but receiving the transfers enabled us to clear all and start a new life altogether. We thank GiveDirectly for the great support they gave us.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The fact that I have started paying for the woods is a clear indication that the new goal in my life has picked. I wish to start construction of a decent bigger house in our household which will accommodate all the members of the household without any congestion. We need more sleeping rooms for children since they are growing older and as dictated by our culture, my sons have clicked an age which we should not allow them to share a bed with our daughters anymore. Furthermore, the only house we are currently living in is small and grass-thatched on the roof, a design which does not match the current generation as far as development in the society is a concern. The house is too old that none of my sons' ages compares. This is a new goal which I am praying that it will come to completion at the end of the year.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My husband has been physically challenged since we got married. I was told that he had contracted polio when he was young. He had lived with the condition for long which does not allow him to do any work due to his weak leg joints. Struggling to feed the family had been my activity since then to date; thank God for my sons who have grown big and now able to support me in my daily chores although they have also started their own families which have diverted their attention from the household work. Currently, I am seeing several changes since I received the transfers from GiveDirectly. The biggest difference of all is the ability to fund the Merry-go-round which we started with other members of the village. This has enabled me to purchase a sheep and at the moment with a great plan to start the construction of a new house. Poultry farming which we initiated at home has also picked and now productive; this has served much needs of the household since we are selling the chicken products every day to replenish any deficiency in the household goods.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
The plan I have to construct a new house is set to run for the next six months. It is my dream that by August I will have sourced enough timber to construct a new house. I have already started purchasing trees which I will later cut with the help of my elder sons to obtain enough timber for setting up the project to the completion.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life currently different from how it was four months ago in that I have expanded my business of groceries and this earns me a good income to meet my household basic needs and even pay my grandchildren school fees.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goals for your life for the next four months is to expand this business of selling milk and maize at the center near home. This project will be earning me a good income to support all my family members and even to save some amount to buy building amaterials to build a better hous e in futere.
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 that I have started a business of selling maize and milk at the center near home. This business earns me a good income to buy our household basic needs and even pay school fees for my grandchildren who are at school. Before I could do hard jobs to get the money and it was not enough to settle all those items. I have devoted my time to this business, I no longer look for hard jobs because at times I could even miss getting one and my family could sleep without taking supper. We are so grateful for the support it has really improve our standing of living.
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 bought building materials to build a spacious and a better house for my family. My grandchildren will have a good place to sleep and even to do their homework.
 
5th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
These transfers have boosted my milk business and now I can drink tea with enough milk unlike before where I used to drink strong tea.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I would like to live a stress free life, built an iron roofed house because I am tired of living in a grass thatched house and start farming with support from my kids.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that these transfers have enabled me and my kids to invest in merry go round of my kids have benefited and am yet to in order to built my house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have built a two roomed iron roofed house and a buy my own dairy cow through the merry go round contributions.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is now to buy a cow for rearing. I believe having a cow I will get milk for sale and the money I receive from sale of milk I will use to buy other food and starvation will an history in my family.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Now I can take tea with sugar unlike before I would have tea without sugar. This has brought us a great joy and happiness.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next sit months I would have buy a cow with GD money. This will help me to have milk for sale and with time when it multiply I will sell some to get money and improve my living standard.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Receiving these Payment has given me happiness, Since I get these transfer I can afford to put a meal on my table as I spent the money to buy food stuff which we didn't have when I receive the transfer.Sometimes I spent a night without a meal which had cause me some stress and worries about the next meal.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship is Ibwas admitted in the hospital three years ago,went through a surgery and the bill was too high and I was not in a position to pay.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning when I wake up and everyone Is happy and healthy.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I will spend my first transfer on poultry keeping,improving my small bussiness of buying ans selling milk.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I have been a farmer for many years ago ,and once I harvest my crops I sell them and I have been able feed my family since my husband is disable,that is what make me proud.