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 > Tonui's Profile
Tonui's family
Tonui
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Teaching
faceAge:
31
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My goal this year is to focus on farming as I wait to be employed since I am a graduate teacher. Getting employee means that I will be able to support my husband with family responsibilities and also improve and expand my dairy farm.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my own opinion everything went well from the beginning of the program to the end. However, I think you should also enrolled youths who are self dependent even though they don't have families.The transfers can help them achieve financial independence because majority of them are jobless due to high rates of unemployment in the country.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
For the longest time, my husband and I desired to have a dairy cow so that we could sell milk and earn income enough to take care of basic needs and enable him save his salary towards some bigger projects. Given that he's a primary school teacher who got permanent employment recently and doesn't earn so much, we have not been able to achieve this. With my second transfer, I spend $300 to buy a dairy cow and the balance to buy food and clothes for our three children. Previously, I was just a house wife with nothing much to do to earn income but right now, I'm focusing on this dairy cow which will give birth towards end of the year. I'm looking forward to grow this to a big dairy farm and I'm so thankful to GiveDirectly for making this possible.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES
access_time over 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I can vividly recall that the moment I received my transfer, I had gone to do clearance in a teacher's training college. While I was busy with the paperwork, I heard my phone ringing. Upon checking my phone, I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I was overwhelmed with happiness because I knew that I would be able to accomplish my goals. I then called my husband and broke the good news to him and he was equally happy and excited. I am forever grateful to GiveDirectly for the opportunity that made me thrive in life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I am happy that I was able to complete my house in a short time. We will no longer worry about where we would borrow money from. This was not possible before because my husband had taken a loan which he was still servicing. I feel happy and contented to have received the support that amazingly boosted our living standards.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a fresh graduate from teachers training college and my husband is a teacher, together we are blessed with three children. My husband took a loan to build a decent house for our family but unfortunately, it was left halfway because we ran out of funds due to the high cost of building materials. Therefore upon the receipt of our initial transfer, I opted to use KES 40,000 in the house completion. Secondly, I used KES 5000 in paying school fees for my son and then I used the remaining amount on foodstuffs and farming. I am grateful and relieved for the milestone that I achieved in a short period.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will mean improved housing and health for my family. My husband and I started to construct our main house in September 2020. He had acquired a loan from his Sacco that enabled us to start construction. However, we were not able to finish constructing it because we ran out of funds and he had to complete paying for the loan so that he can borrow again. This money will enable us to complete the house and also buy a dairy cow so that it can give us milk.
What is the happiest part of your day?
I underwent surgery during the birth of my third child and I had to stay at home without doing work for me to recover fully. I am happy that it went well, I am recovering well and I will be able to work again in no time.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Clearing the loan that my husband borrowed from the Sacco is the major challenge that I have currently because we rely on his job to feed us since I do not have a job. This has put so much strain on him that he has to struggle at times to feed us.