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
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Ngenoh's Profile
Ngenoh's family
Ngenoh
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Teaching
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53010 KES ($381 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I am a teacher by profession, though I am not employed currently. One thing that I desire is for my children to have a good foundation for their education. So, in the years to come, I trust that I will be in a position to look for more ways of generating income, so I will not struggle to pay school fees when that time comes. Purchasing the cows was an investment for the future in that I will not be buying milk but rather using the expenses meant for it on something else and also selling extra milk to earn some money. I would also wish to drive a car in this world before I die, and so I am holding on to my wishes and putting everything in place to ensure that this dream is met.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The time that GiveDirectly came in was one of the most difficult times we have ever faced as a community. We had not done farming for two years because of the prolonged drought, so having food in our homes was a problem. We are grateful to give direct transfers because we have been shielded from the worst; luckily, the rains are here too, and we have bought seedlings and fertilizers to do farming without too much struggle. Through the transfers, our people are made responsible not by choice but for ensuring that the transfers are used in a proper and beneficial way. GiveDirectly has also demonstrated fairness and transparency in this program, which has encouraged many people.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I've been married for two months now, and my first priority was to fill the house with comfortable furniture, including a bed. When I got the transfer, I already knew where I would get them for a negotiated price. I went there and paid $150, which served as a reminder of how I was changing from a senior bachelor to a responsible family man. Additionally, I recalled how, during the dry season, we would go great distances to gather water and that buying a water tank was not at all an option. I went to a hardware store and took out $100 to buy a 1,000-liter tank, and because it is now the rainy season, we will have plenty of water. Because of how highly regarded cows are in our town and how humiliating it might be to not have any at home, I felt compelled to purchase two cows at a cost of $150 each. As the man of the house, all of this made me feel satisfied, and my wife was unable to conceal her joy because it was so obvious on her face.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($444 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was in Bomet town where I run a daycare center when I received my cash transfer. I heard my phone ring and when I checked the message, I realized that I had a huge amount of money in my mobile Mpesa wallet. I couldn't share the news with anyone for security reasons since I was in town. I remained calm until the evening when I shared the news with my family who were grateful.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that my son is in school and studying comfortably. Second, I was able to tile up the floor of my house which was a challenge before, due to financial constraints. I'm so happy and content with the accomplishments so far.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
My husband is a farmer whereas I run a daycare in Bomet. Together, we have three children and one grandchild. When I received my transfer, I opted to pay school fees for my son at the University where I spent $200. Secondly, I spent $300 to enhance my house by putting up tiles on the floor. Lastly, I spent $50 on foodstuff. All this wasn't possible before because I had a sick child to take care of plus the responsibility of paying for school fees. I'm grateful for the support that amazingly uplifted my living standards.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I would like to spend these transfers to make an investment in business. Cereals like maize and beans in this village do sell so much because all the farmers here no longer cultivate any cereal due to emergence of disease and pests so the people in this village mostly buy them. We will therefore spend the transfers in starting a cereal store and I'll leave this to my wife Melody to run because am already engaged and she has been a stay home mum for long. She is lucky also because she has a training in book keeping so she will find it easy to operate this business. This will increase our income as a family and we'll be able to at least have some savings and acquire more assets.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I managed to convince our school headteacher last term to allow me to specialize in the subjects that I teach and this gave me a lot of happiness because I was given subjects that are of great interest to me.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am facing a big challenge currently with my income which has been the root cause of all the problems that I am facing. I am a teacher by profession and I earn $40 every month from coaching students in a nearby primary school. This amount half of it goes to paying my student loan and the rest is left to cater to the needs of my family of 3 and for my parent also. This leaves me with nothing to invest or acquire any asset. This is a trend that has been worrying me for a long time now that in future I'll have nothing to show for in the work that am currently doing.