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 > Rael's Profile
Rael's family
Rael
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53075 KES ($528 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference in my life is that i have managed to put up iron roofed house that did not know that I would ever have in my life. I am now the most happiest person in our village because I was staying in a house that i was being rained on. I was so embarrassed but there was nothing I could because I could not afford to buy iron sheets and build a new house. I am now staying in a spacious comfortable house where I am not worried when it is raining and I am very confident when I have visitors because I know it will accommodate all of them, as compared to before that I could not wish to have a visitor. I also now have very comfortable seats to sit on, I no longer borrow seats as I used to do before.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion give directly did a very good think by supporting the right in the community, that is the stream poor people in community. This has really changed so many people's life since they were willing to have a better life but they could not afford.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent most of the transfer to add more building materials and built a spacious iron roofed house. I was staying in a old iron roofed which was really leaking was not comfortable because any time it was raining I could be rained on, the house also was too small that I had to put things in one corner or pile in one place. I am now the most happiest person in our village because I was staying in a grass-thatched house where people were no longer stay in any more. I was so embarrassed but there was nothing I do could because I could not afford to buy iron sheets. The old house I am now using it as my kitchen where I am able to cook food in, i do not need to cook outside under the tree as i used to do before. I also spent the transfer to buy furniture being that I did not have something comfortable to sit on, I was sitting on stool that was very old which could fall somebody down anytime. This was facing me to borrow seats from my neighbors when I have visitors. The remaining balance I spent to buy one bag of maize and food stuffs for my family consumption, since I did not get enough harvest last season because there was a lot of draught.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($546 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have built my son a house which had been my wish but due to lack of money I was not able to build it.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received the money was overwhelmed with joy.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent part of my first transfer on building my son a house because he was living in a small one and bought my beddings too . I also bought decent clothes for the four children and repaid a loan in the merry-go-round which was overdue. The remaining amount went on seats since I had few ones in my house and bought food that we ate as a family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means that I will be able to build a new house for my family since the current one is small and it hardly fits all of us under one roof. I will also purchase some livestock more so cows that I will use in ploughing my land and also getting milk.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening after finishing my work and I manage to get paid. I feel happy at this time because at least I get assured that I will be able to buy food and a few necessities for my children.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship that I am facing is not having a reliable source of income. As a single parent, it has become extremely difficult to provide for most of my children's basic needs more so feeding, paying for their medical expenses and paying for their school fees. This is because the income that I get from the casual Jobs that I engage in, is hardly sufficient to sustain all of their needs.