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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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Rusi's Profile
Rusi's family
Rusi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
81
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($468 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to construct a poultry unit and buy chickens. I want to start rearing so that they can help me in getting more income for the upkeep and for paying school fees for my grandchild who is in primary school.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly taught us well in the meeting that they held with the members of the village. They taught us how to safeguard our money and be aware of those people who want to con us and take away our money. I hence do not see anything that went wrong.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the second transfer on buying a water tank. I bought the tank at KES 20000. I decided to buy it because the river that we usually fetch water from is very far. The tank will help me in collecting clean rainwater for household and animal use. I am glad that this dream has come to pass because it has rained and hence we have clean water. We hence no longer make long trips to the river to fetch water. I also bought the three sheep at a total cost of KES 12000. I decided to buy the sheep because it is a form of saving money and also because they usually multiply very fast in number. I can sell an offspring whenever I get an emergency and hence help myself out. The remaining amount of money has been helping me in buying food and paying for milk since my cow is dry at the moment. I am happy and thankful to GiveDirectly because I was able to fulfill the plans that I had and I am no longer poor like before.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money I felt so happy. I remember it was very early in the morning when I heard tone message from my phone. I was taking breakfast, I stopped and check it out. I felt so happy because I have never received such amount of money before. I immediately inform my family members and the all celebrated the good news. I knew I would be able to buy a water tank. I have always wished to buy one but I didn't had the money. I went to withdrew the money and planned on how to spend the transfer. I am so much grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have purchased a water tank. I used to walk for a longer distance to collect clean water for domestic use. This was taking much of my time and it was so tedious. The water that we used to collect was not very clean and this means we were being exposed to water-related diseases. It's so expensive to cure water-related diseases. When I received the money from GiveDirectly I knew I would be able to purchase a water tank. I depend on casual jobs in the village and the amount of money that I get through this was so small and not enough to buy a tank. Currently, I have a water tank. I used it to collect clean water from the rain. We are no longer being exposed to water-related diseases. I have saved enough time to work on my farm. I no longer get tired. I am so much grateful because GiveDirectly has changed my living standard.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent the money I received from GiveDirectly on buying a dairy cow at the cost of KES 20,000. I will get enough milk when it reproduces in the next few months. I purchased a water tank for storing clean water for drinking, I build a stand for the water tank. This is to make the water tank stable. For the rest of the money, I bought two sacks of maize and clothes. I am so grateful for the support because GiveDirectly has enabled my assets which could have taken quite some time.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that my household will have an opportunity to own cattle.I sold all the cattle that I previously had, to educate my children and so as at now I have none.I am currently purchasing milk(0.35$ per litre) and this consumes most of my cash that could otherwise have been used to attend to other things.I do not have any source of income and this is hard for me
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is during meal times.My worries are reduced during such times because this is the time that my body energy gets replenished.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Imagine being unable to achieve some of one's desires due to lack of resources.I am aged and I do not have enough resources to acquire some basic needs such as food.Lacking resources to purchase basic needs like food has been my biggest hardship.