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 > Esther's Profile
Esther's family
Esther
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
68
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?
I do not have any new goals that came up because I had achieved most things with the previous transfer. I had the ambition of adding my livestock to increase the production of milk.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
Give directly does well by giving unconditional cash transfer to each homestead hence having a chance to decide on what to spend on. Currently, my village has improved on most ways of living. On the other hand, I do not have any complaints.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After the second transfer, I majorly invested in buying a heifer at Ksh.34,000 which to me it was a plus because we could now get enough production of milk to be used by my family and earn an extra income to support my family. With the remaining amount, I bought sacks of maize from the market to reduce the purchase of maize in small quantities which was a bit expensive, and also purchased clothes for each member in my family which at least left everyone excited and thanked Give Directly for their generous support.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($498 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
After the enrollment by GiveDirectly with the promise to receive the first transfer after a period of two weeks, I had been so keen to read every message coming in. When I finally received the message with the good news, I was so excited that I could not hold my celebration back. I was lucky that I had my helper right with me when the message came as I could not read and fully understand the full content. All I could get from the message was that the amount was KES 55000 but when my son read it out and explained it to me, I was happy and thanked God for that support from GiveDirectly. At that moment, I knew that all the plans I had were going to be accomplished since I had pre-allocated the amount to every project I was to start.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy that we are currently enjoying in our household after receiving the first transfer. This has been brought about by the great transformation we have witnessed. The dream to finally buy a cow came true, and I am hoping that I will soon be enjoying enough milk production that I can sell in case of surplus production.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I had been buying milk for a long time from my neighborhood since I never had a cow that could give my family enough milk for use. On receiving my first transfer, I spent KES 23000 on obtaining a heifer that has given me new hope to soon produce enough milk for my family. I also needed to till my land in readiness for the planting season and had to spend KES 5000 on hiring a tractor. I also spent the remaining amount on obtaining foodstuff worth KES 8000, clothing for my three children worth KES 4000, furnishing the new house with cushions on our new seats at KES 2500, a water tank that will be useful in storing rainwater, and reducing the tedious movement to and from the river at KES 2500, and saved the remaining KES 4000 meant for the farm inputs in the next planting season.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It means a lot. I have heard of people who have received this money and I have seen the things that they have done with this money at their homes. My husband died long ago and I have no one to support me. With this money, I intend to buy a cow and sheep with 38,000 shillings of my first transfer, use 5,000 shillings to pay school fees for my granddaughter who is in grade three and use the amount from the second transfer to upgrade my house since it leaks when it rains.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning because I wake up knowing I met my family's needs the previous day and starting a new day to fend for them.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraints. As I said earlier, my husband died long time and left me with children to take care of. I struggled paying for their education and feeding them with the little money I got from tilling my small farm and I had nothing left to save. I am old now and cannot till the land anymore and so I do not have enough money to take care of my grandchildren.