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 > Pamela's Profile
Pamela's family
Pamela
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
28
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Pamela's next check-in.
 
22nd 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?
In the next four months, I have a new goal of building a new house in my own compound. I feel it is time I have my own home since my children have grown and soon they will start asking for a place to put up their houses. I would not want to move out in rush but at my own pace.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
School fees has been one of the major financial burdens which I have never found a way out until GD came to my life. In the past, I have always depended on my husband's income to pay school fees since I only depend on income from casual work which was mainly food our basic needs such as food. My children would be sent home on a monthly basis which was very shameful. I hoped one day I would do better in paying their fees arrears. This is why I have been using the transfers to pay for their fees arrears on a monthly basis when I get the transfers. Since then I have been able to pay all their fees arrears and they now have nil balance because of the transfers.
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 be having my own livestock. It has been a dream which I was not able to accomplish on my own with my own income. This is because of my income from casual work which could not enable me to meet all our needs in time. Now that I have cleared fees arrears for my children, I will save part of my transfers and use the money to buy a cow. The cow will be the beginning of my livestock investment which I will name GD to be a remembrance of the change GD brought to my life.
 
17th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a new plan which is to build a new house in our own home together with my husband who will also chip in and support me financially. I will have to make sure that I have new building materials such as timber, new iron sheets, and cement which will help me in completing the project within the projected time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life is that I have been able to buy a new coach which was sold to me at around kes 8000. Were it not for the transfers I do not think that it would have been possible for me to acquire the asset since I am just a peasant farmer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will change because I will have the opportunity to own my own house in my own compound away from our father's in-laws place. It is a source of pride back here for one to be able to own such a property. I will have a special form of peace and tranquillity once all this comes into place.
 
14th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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 different from how it would have been four months ago being that I have been able to successfully clear school fees arrears for my children. They used to be sent home regularly because I was not able to pay for their fees arrears in time. Due to my low income from the vegetable business, I was not able to meet all my needs well. With the transfers, I was able to pay their arrears bit by bit till I cleared the arrears with my monthly transfers. I am glad for the change I have realized in my life with the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to boost my vegetable business. This business has been helpful and it has been my main source of income. I know if I input more resources into the business, it will expand and grow. The growth will be for my own good because my income will increase.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Ever since I got married two years ago, I have always lived in poverty. I have always struggled to make ends meet since I only depend on a small income from a vegetable business. The income could not even sustain us very well. I most cases, I would have to take resources from the business to meet my family needs which have affected the business. I would again have to take a loan from our table banking group to boost the business. I could not give up on the business because it has been very helpful in my life. When I started receiving the transfers, I stopped using business money for my personal needs. I decided to buy a sheep as a way of saving the transfer. I can later sell them to raise money for other family needs. I know my life will never be the same again.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I will have saved the amount needed to boost my business. This is my first goal which I want to achieve because I know it will change my life and end most of my financial struggles. When the business is doing well and the profit margin has increased, I will be able to meet all my needs with ease.
 
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Within the last four months, I have managed to use these transfers to buy items that have improved my general life such as a Solar lighting system and new seats. My life changed because now,I don't have to live with the embarrassment of having old chairs in my house and also bear the burden of always buying kerosene which has increased in price in the recent past.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have always wanted to own livestock just like my neighbours. I usually find it very disrespectful when my neighbours come to graze their cattle in my compound because I don't own livestock of my own. To put an end to this, I will use part of my share of the savings from our table banking group where I have been saving my monthly transfers to buy a cow, then use the remaining amount to start a business for a stable source of income which I currently do not have.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I previously had very old chairs in my house which was a big embarrassment to me especially when I had visitors. With the savings that I have been making for the past six months, I was able to buy a new set of sofa sets which has really given my house a facelift and made me more eager to receive visitors.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I am planning to start a business using my next share of the savings from the table banking group where I have been saving my monthly transfers. This will make me more independent and give me the opportunity to provide for my family without having to entirely depend on my husband as I do now.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($45 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily is that my children are able to attend all their classes without being sent out of school for not paying their fees.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect my life to change for the better. I will be having my own compound as I have always wished. My living standards shall have improved too.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My current life is different from how it would have been had I never received this transfer in that I have been able to save more unlike the past. We are doing this in a merry go round and when I get my share,I will do something better. My children were also able to attend all their classes the whole term.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to build a new house in my own compound.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced was living in a leaking grass thatched house. It leaked alot during the rainy season and this spoiled my household items.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the afternoon .when my children come back from school.This is because am able to share a meal with them as we chat about their day at school.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to use my transfers to pay school fees for my three children who are in primary school. It has been quite a struggle getting money for their fees because we only depend on my husband's meager income.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement was to be able to take my three children to school and to sustain them there inspite of my family's low income.