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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Completed
Newsfeed > Mercelyn's Profile
Mercelyn's family
Mercelyn
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mercelyn's next check-in.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($348 USD)
access_time 1 day ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the coming years, I plan to open a business shop right at home so that I can earn profit without needing to go elsewhere. This will allow me to focus on growing the business steadily while staying close to my family. Alongside the shop, I want to continue farming, as it will support us with food and extra income. I believe this combination will not only improve our lives but also help secure a brighter future for my children by supporting their education. With the shop and farm together, we’ll have more stability and fewer financial worries. My goal is to create a strong foundation that will sustain us for years to come.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly did a wonderful job educating us clearly about their cash transfer program, including all the rules and procedures. They made sure we understood that the money is meant to improve our lives and should be used responsibly. I appreciate how they patiently explained everything and encouraged us to make good choices. The team was respectful, and their advice felt genuine and caring. I haven’t noticed anything negative; everything has been handled well, and their support has truly helped my family. I’m grateful for the way GiveDirectly operates and for the positive impact they’ve made in our community.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Investing in my family’s education has always been a priority, so I used $200 from my cash transfer to pay school fees for my five children. Normally, I would have had to sell livestock to cover the costs, but this time, receiving the money allowed me to avoid that difficult choice. Knowing my children’s education is secured for now brings me peace of mind and helps me focus on other areas of our lives.In addition to covering school fees, I allocated $230 to farming. My husband and I decided to plant two acres of watermelon and beans, as we believe these crops have the potential for a good profit. Farming is our main source of income, and by growing crops that sell well, we hope to recover from the setbacks caused by the recent floods, which damaged our land and made life tougher. We’re hopeful that this season’s harvest will not only sustain us but also improve our financial standing.The remaining $20 went towards purchasing food, as we had very little at home. With our main focus on farming and sometimes burning charcoal for extra income, having this extra support for groceries has been a relief. Thanks to this transfer, we’re able to sustain ourselves through this challenging period, and I feel optimistic about the future. It has made a big difference in our lives and has encouraged us to keep working toward a better future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($155 USD)
access_time 2 months ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was just at home preparing to milk my cows when I heard a message sound on my phone. Curious, I checked it, and I couldn't believe my eyes—I had received $200 from GiveDirectly! My three children were with me, and they immediately noticed the excitement on my face. I shared the news with them, and they were equally excited. They had been sent home for unpaid fees, and I didn’t have the money. Now, they were cheered by the news, knowing they finally had something to return to school with.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I was in a difficult situation before receiving the transfer from GiveDirectly. My two children in high school had been home for two days due to unpaid fees, with arrears totaling about $150. I had no money to cover their fees and was on the verge of selling my three goats—one of the few long-term investments I had left after the floods affected me. Thankfully, the transfer arrived in time. I used $100 from the transfer to reduce their school fee arrears, which not only allowed my children to return to school but also saved me from selling my goats. This made a significant difference in my life, as I could secure my children's education while preserving an investment that will benefit us in the future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After my two children, a boy and a girl, were sent home for school fees two days before the transfers, I was desperate. I didn’t have the money and was about to sell my goats to raise the funds. Fortunately, GiveDirectly's support arrived just in time. I used $100 from the transfer for their fees, giving $50 to each child to reduce their arrears. We have five plastic chairs, but with a family of eight and frequent visitors, they often aren’t enough. So, I decided to use $48 from the transfer to buy four additional plastic chairs. I had also planted maize on my 5-acre land, but the floods that struck our community didn’t spare my crops; I lost it all. Knowing that maize is our staple food, I decided to use the remaining amount from the transfer to purchase two bags of maize, which will sustain us for about three months.
 
Enrolled
access_time 4 months ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
The transfers from GiveDirectly will help us rebuild our life. We lost about $2100 investments to flash floods in April 2024 which is demoralizing. I am intending to invest $400 by opening up a kiosk in our village. Many people have not ventured into this enterprise in my village and this motivates me to try my luck. It is my dream to give my two sons quality education, this will help them change their life. I will therefore use $300 of my transfers to clear their school fees arrears. This will give them humble time to concentrate on their studies. With the remaining money, I will buy food and other family basic needs such as clothes.
What is the happiest part of your day?
In spite of not having fully recovered from the scares of flash floods, I am grateful that my family of seven are healthy. This motivates me to work even harder. It is unfortunate that most people in my community are getting sick each and every day due to the outback of malaria.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Crop farming is our main source of livelihood. It is unfortunate that the April flash floods destroyed our farms and crops. The tragedy came with a fair share of challenges, my five acres maize plantation was swept away by the floods. I am now making every effort to put food on the table as well as paying school fees for my two sons in secondary school. I am now relying on charcoal burning to support my loved ones.