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 > Kache's Profile
Kache's family
Kache
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
44
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($509 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is now different because I now own a semi-permanent house. I have been married for over thirty years now and I have never enjoyed the peace if living in a decent house. It has always been my wish to love with all my family members but then all was in vain. This because my spouse depended on the casual jobs whereby whatever he used to earn was too little for our family upkeep. Sometimes he could not even meet the family's daily needs and this made it so difficult to construct a new house using our own money. I am so thankful to GiveDirectly for financial support because the money has brought up joy in my marriage because of the new house. I am now living with all my family member which has always been my prayers. They no longer seek shelter from relatives as they used to do. Courstesy to GiveDirectly.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly, GiveDirectly did so well in various areas. One of this organization is so unique because I received the money directly to my account number as I had been promised. This means that it was so different for my money to be stolen since no one knew I had received my money. SEcondly the unconditionality part of it, I was given the opportunity to choose on what I wanted to purchase using the transfers.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying some building materials such as iron sheets, building poles, and nails which cost 20000. This was purposely for the construction of a new house because the previous one was very small and in poor condition. It could not accommodate all my family members, some of my children used to seek shelter from relatives especially when it rains. I then paid a total of KES 8000 to the Masson as his labor charge. I also bought some goats at KES 6000 as my potential assets that I can depend on in case of any emergency arises. The remaining amount of money I am using it buying some enough foodstuffs for my family and some other basic needs.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($547 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Being a second wife, I have learned to work hard to ensure that my household stands on its own. I got married as a second wife because things back at home hard gotten tough and being a second wife was a better option. What I was never told is that it comes with several responsibilities. Shelter, food, and clothing were not basic anymore because they were not there. What remained as a basic need was living to see the next day which our learned friends term it as "living from hand to mouth". My children used to drink porridge that had no sugar to the point that it was normal, our house was tinny and others could mistake it for a cattle shelter. That very morning that I received my transfers, I knew that it was the turning point for my household. I bought a cow and now we can afford milk tea that has sugar, with at least a loaf of bread. I have bought building materials and in two months, we will be moving into our new house what a marvelous God he is.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was preparing porridge for my children as they were getting ready for school when I heard a message alert from my phone. To ensure that my kids do not get late for school, I did finish to prepare the porridge and poured it in their respective mugs. Then I walked across the room to an old kitchen cabinet that my husband had inherited from the parents and slowly picked my phone. Scrolling down the messages because I had several unread messages I saw on from mpesa which was very rare. Opening the message I was shocked to have received Kes 55,000 from Give Directly. I knelt on the kitchen flow and gave thanks to God for the unexpected breakthrough. I was extremely excited that tears of joy couldn't hold back. I rushed to my husband to deliver the good news.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
When I received my recent transfers, I bought a cow at Kes 17,000 because I had always dreamt of having one but I never knew it was coming this soon. Besides that, I also used part of the balance Kes 20,000 to purchase poles, sisal twine and nails to be used to construct a house for my household given that I am the second wife and my husband is way old that he can no longer work to support us. The amount that remained was Kes 13,000 and it was not enough to purchase timber and iron sheet for roofing so I decided to save it and wait for the second transfer so that I can add to it and purchase roofing materials.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 4 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
To have a decent house is the biggest dream that I have always desired to achieve. My grass thatched house is leaking making it difficult to shelter during rainy seasons. There are some instances that I had to shift my children in the middle of the night to find shelter in my neighbour's house. It is also the same house that serves as a kitchen and the smoke negatively impacts our health. Living in such a condition gives me depression. I therefore plan to build a better house because I cannot stand the suffering anymore. I will also purchase 2 dairy cows and this will mean a constant supply of milk in my village. This will earn me sustainable income that I will use to finance my family needs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In an ideal situation one is supposed to rest at night. However, this is not my case because I tend to think so much about my problems. I always wish for mornings when I interact with my friends and family. Having them around relieve me of stress thus making it the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Taking care of my 5 children through burning charcoal is such a challenge. My husband who could be of help is too old to work. This means I have to take the responsibility single handedly. One of my children is disabled which means she needs extra care. Her maintenance is so expensive that sometimes I overlook the other children. This has made me compromise their well being and they can go hungry for 3 days. Sometimes I am forced to ask for food from my neighbours because I cannot watch them cry. All these problems are as a result of financial instability which is my biggest hardship.