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 > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Raising livestock
faceAge:
37
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($324 USD)
access_time 10 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Given that I have a just started a new business, looking ahead, one of my dreams is to stabilize it enough, save some money and hopefully buy a cow as a family investment. I recognize the invaluable contribution that a cow can make to my livelihood. It would not only provide a sustainable source of income through the sale of milk and dairy products but also enhance my ability to meet the needs of my customers. With the unconditional transfers serving as a stepping stone, I am determined to save diligently and work towards purchasing at least one cow in the next year or more.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
All we ever needed was a little support to unleash our true potential. Give Directly recognized that financial constraints has often been the biggest barrier to progress and decided to address this issue head-on. Through their unconditional transfer program, they provided direct funds to us and our families in need, without any strings attached. The impact of these unconditional transfers was nothing short of remarkable. One by one, our lives were transformed, and hope was reignited. Families who had struggled to put food on the table were now able to enjoy nutritious meals every day. Children who had been forced to drop out of school due to financial constraints were now able to pursue their dreams of education. Entrepreneurs who lacked the necessary capital to start or expand their businesses suddenly found themselves with newfound opportunities due to the financial responsibility given to us by Give Directly transfers to use the funds unconditionally.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my last transfers, I decided to use half of the transfers on my small grocery business. As a small business owner, I have faced numerous challenges and setbacks along the way. The unconditional transfers came at a critical time when my business was struggling to stay afloat. With the allocated transfers I used $200 to inject much-needed capital into my grocery business. I used the funds to restock inventory, improve marketing efforts, and enhance the overall operations. This infusion of funds revitalized my business, attracting new customers and increasing sales. In addition to boosting my business, I recognized the importance of completing my house, which had remained unfinished for far too long. The unconditional transfers allowed me to allocate $ 250 towards the completion of my dream home. I saved diligently, knowing that this investment would provide long-term stability and comfort for my family which has not been the case and I would like to make this a major representation of what Give Directly has done for me and family.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($337 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have five children who are still in primary school. I intend to provide them with the best education that I was not lucky to have due to financial constraints. To do this, I plan to rear livestock as an alternative source of income come next year. I will be using savings from the eatery business to start it off.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GD does well by enrolling its beneficiaries by visiting all the households in the village without depending on secondary sources or local leaders. This has reduced cases of discrimination and corruption. The organisation is doing great work. However, I wish GD could add one more transfer of $450 for us to be more stable financially.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving the second transfer, I used it to boost my business by expanding its structure. I have an eatery business but the structure I was in,was very small in that our customers used to eat from outside in an open-air space. The structure was just enough for cooking and storage. This posed a challenge to the business as we were getting fewer customers during the rainy season. So we used $ 350 of the transfer to buy iron sheets and pay for labour services to expand the structure. We as well replaced the seats with decent ones using $ 50 since the previous ones were very old and outdated. I am glad that the renovation has attracted more customers. Finally, I spent the remaining amount on food to ensure that we have enough for my family's consumption. 
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I received a message around 4:00 p.m. while at home. After reading the message and recognizing the amount indicated to have been deposited into my account, I was relieved to realize it was from GiveDirectly. My husband was at the shopping center, where he was running a food kiosk; I could not call him at the time, so I decided to wait until he got home to surprise him. He was ecstatic, and even though he had heard about the receipt from his customers at the shopping center, knowing that we had also received the expected amount made him very happy. We had a lot to do, but feeding my family was a top priority.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The availability of food for my family is the most noticeable difference in my daily life. I am no longer struggling with part-time work that pays less at the end of the month, but at least I can plan my work while I look into an income-generating investment. Even though we had been struggling a lot, we could not always find money for food, forcing us to go without even if we had been struggling all day.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After receiving the first transfer, I spent $80 on food shopping for my family of seven, which included maize, beans, and other items. We had previously relied on livestock farming, and goat rearing has been thriving, so much so that we considered adding more animals to the 30 goats we currently have. As we planned, we decided to rebuild their house before increasing the number any further. For $9, including transportation, I purchased construction materials such as poles and grass thatches for the roof, as well as a metallic door. I am relieved that the construction has only just begun and that the subsequent transfer will help us realize our dream. The remainder was spent on groceries and other household items that we still use.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
Since we've had a lot of challenges getting food for our family. It's of top priority to buy food. We intend to buy 2 bags of maize for $120. This will sustain us for the next 6 months. To ensure we have enough goats for emergency expenses, we will buy additional 4 goats for around $120. This will also help us in the future. Additionally, we also need to expand our hotel business. It's a small place and we need utensils, new chairs and to creat more space. We plan to use $500 to stabilize the business. This means that we'll have a stable income and also be able to plan for our 5 children. They are young and soon will need school fees for their education.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Early September this year, we started a hotel business at the nearby center. In a day we can make a profit of $3. This makes me happy since we're able to provide for our family of 7.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
There has been little or no rain this year. This has affected us a lot. We had planted 2 acres of land. On a good season we could harvest 8 bags of maize and 50 kilos of beans. This year we lost everything. It has made our life's really difficult. To survive during this dry season, we've sold 6 goats. When we sell the goats we're able to buy bags of maize. It's sad seeing our stock reduce.