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 > Sera's Profile
Sera's family
Sera
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
34
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($462 USD)
access_time almost 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 save towards my son's school fees. My son just graduated from primary school and he's set to join high school. Since I had saved part of my transfer towards his school fees I want to add more because it was not enough for his first term.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
What GiveDirectly does is providing financial aid to the poorest in the society and this has helped us to improve our living standards and we are in a better place in the society.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Buying paraffin so that we could afford some shade of light at night had been the biggest struggle. It was also dangerous at the same time because it could easily burn our small house which was very squeezed. Our plan was to buy a solar panel which would be much cheaper and also avoid the danger of burning down the house but my husband who's a bus conductor earning averagely 200 KES per day couldn't afford as he had the responsibility to support our six kids. I spend 14000 KES to buy and install solar panel am happy that my husband doesn't have to go to his pockets for us to have lights at night. My kids can also study comfortably at night and am hoping that this will improve their performance in class. I spend 3500 KES to buy a goat and saved the balance towards my son's school fees.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 11 pm, I was on my bed resting. I was awakened by the loud message alert from my mobile phone. I was anxious to know what was all about. Therefore, I decided to check my phone to my surprise it was the money from GiveDirectly. I was so excited for receiving my transfer which would help me in renovating the roof of my house which was blown away by strong 2 months ago. I immediately contacted my spouse to tell him the good news and he was very happy about the transfer. He promised to come back home for us to plan on how to spend our transfer.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I am grateful to GiveDirectly for the transfer, I was stranded on what to do to get the required money for renovating my house after it was blown away by winds. Today, I am happy and comfortable living in a decent and respectable house something that is has changed my life for the better. Therefore, living in a decent house is the greatest difference in my life.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For two months, I have been living under an open-roofed house after the roof of my house was blown away by a strong wind which made my life miserable. My casual activity could not generate such an amount of money to renovate it quickly. After receiving my transfer, I used KES 35,000 to purchase the building materials which include 26 iron sheets, timber, and nails. Similarly, I paid a labor charge of KES 8,000 for the renovation. I also spent KES 3,000 to clear the fee balances for my 3 children who are still schooling. The remaining amount assisted me in purchasing food for my family as well as buying some new pairs of clothes for each family member. We were wearing old and worn-out clothes which were humiliating.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means food security to my family. I have a big family of eight people with all of them depending on the small business of charcoal. The business brings approximately 2000KES a month, something that has never been enough to us. So with this money I will be able to buy enough food so that my family can afford at least three meals a day. This will avoid a situation of them missing school because of food.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Las month my neighbor's son had a birthday party. It very colorful and full of various foods. I personally I enjoyed pilau which I had missed for a long time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My current problem is insecure house. My house roof was blown away by wind last month. A situation that has caused some of my children seek refuge in other people's house. My items in the house are not safe anymore because any moment thieves or rain can destroy them.