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 > Penaline's Profile
Penaline's family
Penaline
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
House construction
faceAge:
22
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($475 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I was excited to receive my second transfer since I had already planned for it.For the longest time, I had wanted to purchase a dairy cow since we had been buying milk from my neighborhour which could not sustain my entire family because it was very expensive and at times we could skip buying the milk.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Upon receiving the second transfer, I went ahead and purchased a heifer worth Kshs.27,000 since we had been buying milk which used to be very expensive. I am now happy that I will be milking my cow in a few months. I also obtained sheep at Kshs.4500 which I am currently rearing and furniture worth Kshs.5000. With the remaining amount, I used to purchase foodstuff and clothing for my family.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Give directly does well by following fair process during enrollment and also buy giving cash transfer which allows everyone decide on what to spend the money on.I have no complain since all process were duly adhered as we had been informed by GD officers.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($506 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was early in the morning, as I was on my usual chores at the cowshed when I received a notification on my phone. On checking it up, it was the transfer that had just landed in my account. I wasn't done milking then but I could not hold my excitement back anymore, and I had to first leave everything right there to inform my family of the good news. Everyone was so happy and hopeful on receiving the news that things will start changing to what we had always wished for. We affirmed the plans we had and were so ready to start working on them the following day.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The heifer I bought after receiving the first transfer has brought a great difference in my current life. Having an added livestock on my farm is great hope for my family's future as it is an investment deemed to be prolific in the future and could help us in settling household bills. This is the biggest difference I have made with the transfer. I am glad that I made such a decision for my household.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Providing all the household requirements enough for my family of five has never been that easy. I had been having great hopes of adding a source of extra income to the small-scale farming I had been doing within my piece of land. On receiving the first transfer, adding a heifer to my field was the number one option. I obtained a good fast-growing heifer at $280. This will not only provide my family enough milk soon but also a surplus for sale as a source of income. I obtained enough fencing poles and barbed wire roles that I am currently using on the partitioning of the livestock grazing fields at $100. I also paid the labor force that worked alongside my husband who needed an extra person to help him in tightening the fencing lines. I obtained enough maize as foodstuff for the household with the remaining $34. I am grateful for the great progress I am currently making at every point of expenditure and gratitude goes to GiveDirectly for ensuring transformation from the hard life we had been living to the better one now.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means financial freedom for me. I will purchase two dairy cows at a cost of 24000 each shillings and 3 sheep at a cost of 4500 shillings each. I believe that these animals will breed after two years and I will be able to sell them for profit.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of the day is in the evening because this is the time we take our supper as we chat with my family. I am also happy because I am looking forward to having a good night rest after a days work.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest worry at the moment is lack of milk for my children. I have 3 children and the youngest is 1 year old. These children depend on milk so that they can get proper nutrition. I am therefore forced to buy 1 litre of milk daily at 50 shillings. I have not had enough capital to buy a dairy cow for the longest time but today, there is light at the end of the tunnel for me.