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 > Alice's Profile
Alice's family
Alice
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
55
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($458 USD)
access_time over 1 year 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 be able to get enough money and seek medication. For a long time I have had a problem with my feet; I often feel a lot of pain especially when I strain walking over some long distances on my feet. When I received the second transfer I was able to get medical attention but later on I was directed to undergo a surgery on my feet but I could not do that before depositing a sum of KES 70000. By the time I was asked to produce the money, I already had none and I therefore look forward towards getting the money and being in a position to get this problem sorted once and for all.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly did very well in giving us some form of education before we received the money. This kind of education enabled us to make informed decisions on how to spend the money and they went further to give us the freedom to use the money in the ways we saw were best for us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I used KES 10000 to pay school fees for my child and used the remaining amount to seek medication since I was ailing as at that time. I have one child still under my care and whom I am required to pay her school fees. Had I not received the money from GiveDirectly then I would not have been able to pay her school fees neither would I have been able to get the neccesary medication.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was sleeping in the house since I was very sick when I received a Mpesa message from Segovia technology. I did not know at first that they were the money I had been expecting but when one of my neighbors visited to know how I was doing, she informed me that the money was from GiveDirectly. I became so happy on knowing this and I immediately called my niece so that he would take me to the Mpesa shop so that I would withdraw the cash since I needed to use part of it to pay for my medication.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
I always experience joint pains in my hands and legs. Because of this, I always had sleepless nights, and doing some house chores was a major challenge since my hands were always weak. I was to visit the hospital frequently for check-ups but I was not able to due to lack of funds. With my transfer, I was able to get the required medication and I am happy that I am recuperating well as I have been able to start doing some chores that do not require a lot of strength. I am planning to spend part of my second transfer on medication so that I can fully recover. I will forever remain grateful to GiveDirectly for playing a major role in my recovery journey.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I did not have a dairy cow of my own when GiveDirectly came for enrollment. This always made me help some people raise their cows and enjoy free milk in return. Some people would at times take back their assets anytime they wished and there was nothing I could do. On receiving my transfer, I spent KES 35000 to purchase a dairy cow and I am happy that I have an asset that I can rely on. Also, I spent KES 8000 on medication since I was sick and used the remaining amount on food.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money is an asuarance that my children will now continue with their education properly without disruption.I have a son who is about to complete his college education, pursuing computer science. It is a huge leap into the future because he will get a job and earn a descent living. My daughter in secondary school is also working hard. Any disruptions that may come if she is sent home due to lack of school fees will easily derail her. I depend on income from milk and food crops that I grow, earning only enough to meet our daily needs. I will spend about KES 50 000 on clearing school fees and another KES 50,000, to improve my house. This way, I will live more happily.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I heard about the transfers, I was delighted with the fact that I can now address my long time knee problem. I have been using local medical facilities, without finding any reprieve.With this transfers, my dream of seeing a specialist to heal me is now a reality. News about GiveDirectly working in my village gave me the greatest joy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Medical expenses for my son who is diabetic is one of the biggest challenges that I currently face. I have been incurring this cost , consistently for more than ten years now. He has not gotten any better, only relying on on routine injections, that are very expensive, to check his blood sugar levels. I also struggle with my own illness, having difficulty walking because knees aches. I intend to go for further checkups, since the medication that I have been using have not worked so far.