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 > William's Profile
William's family
William
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
44
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 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 goal at the moment but I will concentrate more on my dairy keeping which to me is an investment that will help me meet all my family's needs without much struggle. When I received my second transfer, I used part of it to buy a dairy cow that is not bad in terms of milk production. I am very determimed to make sure that I continue with this business and hoefully I will have an extra dairy cow soon enough
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well by enrolling people without any form of biasnesss. This gave us all an opportunity to invest the money in the ways that we thought was going to give us maximum benefits.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 42000 to buy a dairy cow and used the remaining amount to buy food and clothes for my family. I made a decision to buy a dairy cow since this is an investment that will help me now and in the future to meet the daily needs of my family. So far the cow produces enough milk to feed my family and I could not ask for more. I am optimistic that my dairy farming shall keep soaring so as to better the living standards of my family in the long run.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($482 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 around 4 pm when I had my phone vibrate but was busy with my daily activities in my workplace. Upon checking, it was an MPESA message from Givedirectly. I was happy and shared the great news with my colleagues who were equally happy since they had also received it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the clearance of school fees for my children. It has given me hope of seeing my children have a great future since it had been hard for me to raise the school fees but am grateful that Givedirectly came through when I needed it most.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After a discussion with my wife on how to spend the first transfer, we agreed on clearing school fees arrears for our two sons who are in secondary school. I work as a cook in a nearby school and had taken a loan to pay for school fees hence my monthly salary is deducted to service the loan hence limiting me to pay the school fees in time. I am grateful that my children are having ample time to study unlike before they were being sent home for a collection of fees. With the remaining amount, I used to purchase four sacks of maize which will sustain my right family members for a couple of months.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I am currently undergoing a very difficult period financially even though I am employed earning a salary of KES. 8,000 monthly. I have 3 children in high school and am required to pay KES. 80,000 annually. There is one more who is also set to join high school this April and this will raise the annual fees to slightly above KES.100,000. I only depend on my employment to cater to all my family's needs. Last year when I felt overwhelmed by the school fees needs, I took a loan of KES. 50,000 to clear the balances and since then I am being deducted KES. 5,000 on my salary monthly leaving me with only KES. 3,000 which is insufficient. I am feeling so much relieved now that you have come to my aid. I shall be able to clear this loan and pay almost the whole school year for the 3 children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I got a promotion at the beginning of this year at my workplace. I used to work as a watchman but now I work as a cook, I had desired to work in the kitchen for a long time and this gave me a lot of happiness.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I value education so much because I have witnessed the people with whom we grew up together excel in life because they got a good education. This is what I want my children to experience in life but it is so challenging to pay their school fees. I feel that soon some of them might have to wait for their siblings to finish first but it might not work because education needs to be continuous. I thank GiveDirectly so much for helping me out.