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 > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
53
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($460 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I have a new goal which is to buy goats and dairy cows and I am hopeful that this will be achieved very soon. I have been thinking of having them because of the many advantages for instance, with the cows I will be getting plenty of liters of milk which will be for my family's usage, and the remaining amount I will sell to the dairy shops. Again, with the goats, once they multiply, I will be able to sell one of two and sort out any kind of emergency that might occur.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly is the best organization that I have ever come across in my life. The entire village was satisfied with how the officers treated us from the Barraza to the last process. They were down-to-earth and approachable. They were ready to listen to whatever concerns we had as a community and acted upon them timely.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying a piece of land(1acre) at KES 25000. Previously I used to lease from my friends because ours was a family land which was also small in size. In every harvesting season, I used to get poor and low yields which was a result of the size of the farm and productivity. For now, I am a happy farmer because I will no longer have to worry during the rainy seasons. Also, I bought a new bed and mattress at KES 8000, back in the day, I used to sleep on the floor, with an old mat which I was not uncomfortable. I used to experience lots of pain every night together with my kids. It is now a relief to us as a family and we are appreciative. With the remaining amount of money, I bought foodstuffs for my five children. I have been the breadwinner from the day my spouse went to the with the Lord and raising the five kids has never been easy, in most of the days we even used to skip meals.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($484 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was around 6pm while I was at home relaxing when I heard my phone ringing. I picked it up only to be told that it was a message. I asked my helper to read and interpret the message for me because I do not know how to read. The information made me to ululate due to happiness that engulfed my heart. It was the promised money that we were told by the GiveDirectly officers who came at our village.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference that I can testify to people about GiveDirectly is the tangible project that I did. I used the money to build a nice house because the old one was collapsing and renovating it could have more cost implications. I am very grateful for getting this house and I send my sincere gratitude to GiveDirectly for good heart they showed not only to me but to my whole community.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I withdrew the money, I looked at the state of my house, since it was old and in the verge of collapsing; I opted to buy some building materials so that I can construct a new nice house. I used KES 20000.00 and bought some iron sheets, nails, ridges and poles. Thereafter, I bought an acre piece of land which cost KES 35000.00 but I paid KES 25000.00 and agreed to pay the remaining amount after receiving the second transfer. I also bought 3 goals and some food for the family.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I totally don't have a house to live in with my 9 children. I am a widow with 9 children. I have a very small hurt which I usually squeeze myself in with my family. I have an urgent need of having a bigger house than this. Receiving this money means I will build a 2 bedroom house so that I can live happly with my family. I am planning to use the second transfer to buy a piece of land so that I can do agriculture. I depend on casual labour which is straneous and I am growing old now (67 years).
What is the happiest part of your day?
I got 10 kilograms of rice and 10 kilograms of beans last month from one of our politician as drought donation. This brought joy and happiness to my family because we enjoyed a good mean for 3 days.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Hunger is the biggest challenge in my house. I depend on a single meal every day. I drink a cup of porridge in the morning and leave my house to the shopping centre to search for a casual labour. I either do carry concrete or sand or do laundry to anyone with that job. I am living a hard life in my house with my 9 children. There is no water in our area, all water pans dried and the one with salt water is very far ( 3kilometers) from here.