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:
Small business
faceAge:
60
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($442 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?
Since I purchased the iron sheets with the second transfer my goal is to purchase other materials and build a better house for my family. I lived in a small house and I would be happy to own a better and decent house.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly does well by training the community before giving out the money. This enabled the community members to spend the transfer well. Most of the people were able to build better houses and buy daily cows. I do not find anything that GiveDirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 40,000 on purchasing iron sheets. I am planning on building a better and more spacious house. I live in a small old house. I have always wished to build a better house but I did not have the money to buy the building materials. I am so happy that I have purchased the iron sheets ready. I will start the construction once all the materials are there. I spent the remaining amount of money on food and household items.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($496 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received the message confirmation of the transfer receipt when I was away from home as I had gone to look after my sick old mother who is also blind at the moment. The message warmed my heart as I had been anticipating receiving it over that week. With the plans in mind, I was happy to know that I would soon be initiating them. I never had any hurry of withdrawing as I had to get back home first so that I can see how best I could pick the planned task.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life after receiving my first transfer is the construction of a spacious house that currently accommodates all the members of my household. I had been looking forward to such a development but the inability to save due to the many responsibilities both on taking care of my elderly mother and also meeting all financial obligations of my household. I am now grateful that we are enjoying a clean and spacious room, unlike the previous one that was so squeezed.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the many responsibilities I had been having raising my children, I have always found it hard to initiate the construction of a new house on the new piece of land that I bought some years back. I was lucky to have bought it with the already constructed hut but unfortunately, it had started leaking on the roof every time it rained. On receiving the first transfer, I opted to spend KES30000 on constructing a new one. It is now completed and we felt really good after moving in as it is spacious and also tidier than the previous one. I also settled a debt of KES 8000 with the shopkeeper, obtained a sack and half maize at KES 6000 that I found cheaper than the habitual small quantities I had been buying, and used the remaining amount on boosting the small grocery business I had been running in the nearby shopping center.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My iron sheets are too old and leaking therefore I shall use $400 to buy new iron sheets and py for labor.i shall also buy a cow worth$400 so that it will help me in future in terms of fee payment for my grandchildren .Their mother is unstable mentally hence I have to take care of them.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Every meal time is the happiest part of my day because we interact and laugh with my grandchildren.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Hunger is the biggest hardship my family has faced.Being a single mother I have to make ends meet for both my daughters and my grandchildren.one of my child is mentally unstable and as a result she has had five kids .Men take advantage of her because of her state and I have had to carry the burden.