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.
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Newsfeed > Ruth's Profile
Ruth's family
Ruth
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
54
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
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Follow to be updated on Ruth's next check-in.
 
23rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I would want to use my transfers to pay school fees for my children in both primary and secondary schools. I would not want to see them at home because I do not have money to pay yet I do get money from GD on a monthly basis.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have never imagined I could own livestock ever in my life. I was not well educated and so I could not get a good job to earn an income to help me meet my needs and even buy livestock as I would have wanted to. This is why I had given up in owning any livestock. But when I started receiving my transfers from GD, I revived the dream and started a small savings account which I used to buy two cows as investment and remembrance of GD. I know when they will have reproduced, I will have a good number which will be my source of wealth and I could even sell the rest to have money and even meet other family needs which may arise without having to borrow and taking loans.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be different in the next six months in that I will have managed to clear fees arrears for my children. I never went to school as I would have wanted to because my parents were unable to raise money to pay for my fees. As a result, it has motivated me more to pay fees for my children. I would not be a happy parent when my children are sent home for fees arrears anymore. I would want to give them the best which I could not get myself.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have some idle piece of land that I previously harvested from, My new goal now is to till and plant maize in the piece of land.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I am able to comfortably meet my children's needs and pocket money. Before, I used to struggle to make enough money for these needs. I am glad that I am less worried whenever my child is going back to school since I am always in a position to provide his fare and pocket money. These transfers have also improved my confidence in any project that I undertake since I can borrow some money from a friend since I am assured of the monthly transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My expectation in the near future is to be financially stable and independent. I want to be in a position where I can run my projects comfortably with little pressure. Bills such as school fees payment for my child sometimes stresses me since I may not have enough money to pay sometimes. Being stable financially will mean I will sort such comfortably and still have enough to meet other needs. I hope that we will be in a position as a family where we do not lack!
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Four months ago, I was under alot of pain and had a disgusting health problem. However, I am relieved at the moment because the treatment I got using the money I received was just enough to get me well. I have been using the money to buy the drugs that I needed and also food for myself. I have a better life now.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My next goal is go get involved in farming activities. I intend to use part of the transfers to buy inputs so that I can make an income out of this too.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been using the money I received to pay for my treatment. As a result, I have become quite well. Feeling better has greatly improved my life since I am now able to do all the small things that matter for me. I am glad that I got the treatment that I needed. Thank you so much GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will have further improved in the next six months. I am so glad that once again, I will be back to farming some crops on my farm even nuder thw care of my child. I will therefore be having a source of income as the sale of the produce will be some extra money to use on my own expenses.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Providing food for my family had been a tough experience before the last transfer. We used to eat only the little we could afford but nowadays, we buy foodstuffs that the last for about three weeks that enable us to constantly take the meals every day. I have also managed to buy some clothes using the November cash transfer.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I plan to buy a heifer. This will be a dairy cow that will be reared on my own farm for milk production.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The difference in my daily life is in the ability to pay school fees for my children. Over the last four months, I kept saving the transfers in my MPesa account and withdrew it when schools were reopening. I then used the money to clear school fees and bought them educational materials without too much hustle unlike before. I am so happy that this is possible without taking the loans I used to take from a local bank. The financial strength I enjoy is because of GiveDirectly transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect my life to have changed in that I will be a livestock owner. This will be a financial level that is good enough for me as it is an investment that keeps growing every year as the animals multiply while being a source of income.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago in that I currently more humble and stress-free life since we have monthly transfers as our income to assist in school fee payment. It has always been hard for my husband and raising school fee for our kids.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The new goal that I have developed for my life for the next four months is to start a business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is the effort and ability to raise my children school fee on time. It has always been a stress for my husband and I raising school fee for our children. I have had a humble and stress-free life for the last four months since we have been using our monthly transfer with my husband to pay fees.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months to come, I expect to be having a happier life than now in that I will have than monthly transfer paying school fee for my kids hence will use other income for other basic needs.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I don't have any new goals since I received only KShs 455.This is because an amount was deducted to pay for the phone i received from GiveDectly.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been. I will use this money in ways in which I didn't have money to spend on.I will save and start a business so that I generate an income to keep this money in good use.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I hope my life to change because I have an income from this transfer.I will have savings to start a shop business. we will join hands with my husband to build the shop in a section of my compound near the road.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
At the moment,I have not seen any big difference in my life since I just received what remained after deducting charges of the phone I received.I was happy and thankful.I now a phone and is having money from this transfers.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Last year I felt sick, my legs were paralyzed and so I couldn't continue with my tomatoe farming. This was the time My children need me the most, all my two sons were joining secondary school and the daughter was to join college. I was unable to pay for their school fees, thanks to the county government for coming to my rescue with Bursary and this was my biggest hardship in my life
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up seeing a bright day with all my family happy and ready for their daily duties
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to use my transfer to open a small shop and also to pay school fees for my daughter who recently joined kamureito secondary school.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
There was a season in 2015 when I planted tomatoes in my small farm and I got double yields than I expected, this enabled me pay school fees for my child who was joining form one. This is the proudest achievement in my life.