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:
Casual labour
faceAge:
43
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Pamela's next check-in.
 
18th 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?
My life is different from how it would have been four months ago in that I have livestock in my compound. This is a dream come true in my life. I had desired to have livestock but due to low income from casual work, I was not able to achieve this goal. Receiving these transfers revived the dream and started paying for the three goats I have now bit by bit. As at now, I feel rich and GD has taken away my shame through the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to ensure I pay all the school fees arrears for my son who is sitting for his final examinations in secondary school this year. This is because I would not want him to be sent home for arrears anymore. This will affect his performance if he is sent home every now and again.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Since I started receiving these transfers, I joined a merry-go-round with other village members who are also GD recipients. I was determined to save so that I can buy building materials for putting up a good house. I have been saving the transfers and I am glad I used my savings to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails which I have used in building an iron-roofed house. Before the transfers, I used to live in a grass-thatched with part of the roof covered with polythene bags. This was my biggest worry and I am glad it is my past now.
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 cleared my son's school fees arrears. My plan is to save on a monthly basis so that I clear the balance. It will be my joy when my son performs well in his final examinations because he had humble time to study. I can only ensure this is done if I clear the balance in time.
 
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?
My life is currently different from how it was before Give Directly came into my life in that I no longer purchase maize floor. Since I started receiving the transfer from GD, I was able to boost my farming. My produce is more than what I used to get before; It can last me for longer periods before buying a new stock. This is cheaper compared to buying from the market or other people's farm. I really thank Give Directly for giving me this help because my life has improved. I am stable financially, health-wise and economically
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Currently, I don't have any additional goal. I want to put more efforts on my farm in order to get a good harvest. I feel like if I start another project I will not be able to efficiently do my do farming. I want to use the little resources that I have to ensure that I get the best out of it.
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 that I was able to invest in farming. I managed to buy farm inputs which I could not afford previously. I was also able to hire labor and plant on time. I normally use cow dung from my farm because I couldn't afford the modern fertilizers. It is a good type of manure but it doesn't have some nutrients that would help plants flourish. I believe that this time I will get a bumper harvest because I had all the necessary resources. In addition to this, I also bought a few household items. Some of these Items were only considered for the rich. I am glad I was also able to afford a few
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am hopeful that I will have a bumper harvest and enough food stock for my household given the input in the farming.
 
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?
I was diagnosed with high blood pressure due to stress, I even developed ulcer infection as a result of worries on where I might have getten money for school fees, but currently, I have managed my life well and have good plans financially for my future economic development.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a goal to achieve in the next four months, I want to buy dairy goats at least two, and to build a cooking house. I believe this will be achievable as long as I am still in GD program.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life for the last four months is that, initially, I used to toil in order to pay school fees because getting loan was difficult. Currently, I am access to loan and pay school fees very comfortably, and use the monthly transfer to pay back this loan. This has made me to appear like some one who earns a lot of money but it is not so, only that I have used my transfer wisely.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I plan to apply for loan to start goat rearing project. I built a house for the goats, and planted Nappier grass for feeding. I have been ambitious for that and have developed passion for the same. I had completed Fees for the whole year and by next year, I shall have achieved my dreams.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I was able to hire people to plow my farm. I have also been easily paying my children's school without any challenges.
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 constructing akitchen because I do not have a kitchen and I'm currrently cooking in my main house which is not safe.
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 preceding the current transfer is that I have managed to hire people to plow my farm and I'm hoping for an improved harvest.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have constructed a kitchen.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to use these transfers to buy building poles and save part of it so that I can build a new house. I have bought most of the materials and all that is left is the labor fee.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Currently, I am sure of an income which enables me to plan ahead unlike before when I used to totally depend on casual jobs which were very unreliable.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I will have moved from this grass-thatched house to an iron-roofed one because I will use the transfers to buy the remaining materials and pay the construction workers.This will earn me respect in the society .
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
With this money,I am able to take care of projects I would never do before,such as cultivating that large piece of land that has been laying fallow for some time.This is a good sign because I it means more produce for my family.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is lack of enough money to pay school fees for my children. This led to my first born child to drop out of school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is morning because I am able to see another day and continue with my daily routine of farming and casual labour to provide for my family.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer on remodelling the house because my family is quickly outgrowing the space.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My family has dedicated their lives to farming. We are able to get plenty harvest for family consumption and this is the achievement I am most proud of.