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 > Ednah's Profile
Ednah's family
Ednah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
40
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($512 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?
My children have always been sent home for fees arrears on a monthly basis. Anytime pupils were being sent home, my children knew they would be sent home. This is because I was not able to pay their balance in time. I did not have a stable source of income to help me pay in time. It was very shameful because I was the only one whose children were being sent home regularly. I am happy because GD has re-written this chapter of my life. Since the year began, my children have only ben sent home once for arrears because I used the transfers to clear their arrears. I do feel at peace when I see them leaving the house because I know they would not be sent home for arrears. Secondly, the struggles I used to go through to get water during the dry seasons are no more. This is because I used part of my first transfer to buy a water tank. During the rainy seasons, I harvest water which has been very helpful in the dry seasons. This is how GD transfers have changed my life
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I have never witnessed such a life-changing opportunity as I did with GD. I have never received such amount of money as I did from GD. I have always received the little I get from casual work and as a result of GD transfers, many lives have been transformed in the village. Giving such an amount of cash was very beneficial to the community considering the kind of poverty level we live in. I do not feel there is anything GD should improve on.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying a solar system, building materials and food. I have always found it very costly to buy kerosene on a daily basis since I do not have a stable source of income. For this reason, I have always desired to buy a solar panel to help me with lighting in the house. I could not buy on my own because of limited resources until I received my transfer from GD. The building materials I bought were to build a water tower for the tank I bought with part of my first transfer. I have always struggled to get water during the dry seasons and have had to walk for many kilometres to get water. This is why I chose to buy a water tank with my first transfer so that I do not struggle anymore. I have never run out of water in my house since I bought the tank. The remaining part of my transfer, I used to boost the stock of food we had left in the house. We did not have much left considering the last harvest the farm did not do well.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($539 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
Since I received money from GiveDirectly, my daily life has changed since I now have tapped water which I sometimes sell to people who do not have hence I earn an income through it something which has never happened in my life before. Piped water has also made my children to always stay clean for they do not go for a day without taking a bath and this makes me so happy.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 4 am in the morning when I received two consecutive messages nad upon reading them, I became so happy. At that instant, I started singing silently then prayed to thank God for His Blessings upon my life.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Our region experiences prolonged draught sometimes which forces people to buy water since the rivers also usually run dry. When I received my first transfers, I spent part of it in buying a water tank for water storage and in connecting piped water. Through this, I will be able to sell water to people during this times and get some money. Since I used to buy maize flour on a daily basis, I decided to use the remaining amount in the purchase of two sacks of maize so that it would last us for some time.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been aspiring to buy water tank since we have water problem in our area. I am planning to use Ksh 35,000 to buy a 5,000 litres water tank. Even though there is county council water in my compound, we get it twice a month thats why I have deemed it prudent to have a storage tank to cater for water shortage.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest of my day is in the evening. I am a laboratory technician at Kapsabul Secondary School and my normal day starts by using one hour of my morning to prepare my School going kids. After my kids have left for School (Lugumek angels Academy), I also prepare myself and leave for my normal job as Lab technician at Kapsabul Secondary School. My work ends at around 5.00pm where I reunite with my family at home. This is my free time I rest and have dinner as we chat with my family members on how the day was.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is lack of food. This area is so dry that even if we grow crops such maize, beans or even kales, we hardly get enough due to drought or even we harvest nothing completely from our garden.