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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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Kauchi's Profile
Kauchi's family
Kauchi
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($493 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than how it would have been because I am now sleeping in a very decent house. I have been wishing to own it for quite some time but because I was the breadwinner of the family and depending on odd jobs I couldn't afford to buy the needed materials. My spouse neglects us for over three years now and moved to another village. Therefore fending for the whole family has been a great change for me. All is well now because we are now living happily with my family with no more worries like before. Also, I believe the livestock that I possess will be of great help, especially for my children's education.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in all the sectors in my entire region. The money was sent directly to our accounts without having to through any intermediaries. This was the best of all becasue there were no cases of bribery or even theft. Every one of us utilized the cash accordingly. Therefore I do not see any sector GD failed us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying five goats at KES 3200 each. These have been the well thoughtful assets that I had been yearning to keep but I couldn't afford them because of financial difficulties. I also bought building materials such as iron sheets, building poles, threads, nails, and timber. This was for the construction of a new house becsue the previous one was in a previosu one that had collapsed, and I have to sleep at my mother-in-law's house. I had a dream of owning one for a long time, but I could not afford to purchase the materials needed. I also cleared some medical bills for my children who are disabled, one is deaf, and the other one paralyzed. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($494 USD)
access_time over 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I saw the transfer notification on my phone early in the morning. I was curious to know who could have sent me a message early in the morning. On checking, it was an Mpesa message informing me that I had received KES 55000 from GiveDirectly. I could not believe that it was me having this money in my Mpesa account. I felt happy even as I began the plans of withdrawing it.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My greatest desire was to have a good and decent house to live with my family. However, I did not have enough financial resources to achieve this. I was forced to seek shelter from my neighbours whenever it rained since my grass thatched would leak uncontrollable. When I received this financial help, I resolved to build a new iron roofed house. I bought iron sheets, nails and building poles to construct the new house. Having a decent and iron roofed house to live with my family makes it to be the biggest difference in my daily life. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for helping me build my dream house.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am now in the process of constructing a new iron roofed house. I was staying in a hut that was grass thatched and my desire was to build a new decent and iron roofed house. When I received the transfer , I purchased pieces of iron sheets, poles and paid for the labour cost. I am happy that very soon I will be moving into my new iron roofed house. Apart from this, I also bought goats that I am currently keeping in my homestead. They are assets that I can readily depend on as they reproduce and increase in number.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have desired to construct a decent house for my family like others in our village. Currently, I am living in a small, leaking grass-thatched house that has collapsed on one side. We experience strong winds at night and this has brought a lot of health challenges to my last born child who suffers from bone problems that have rendered her unable to walk or stand for 3 years now since she was born. Receiving this money means the realization of my dream as I am planning to spend $ 200 to construct a specious iron-roofed house. The remaining amount will assist me in taking my child to the hospital, she requires to undergo physiotherapy every month.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. I always spend my morning doing house chores until noon where travel to the bush to tap aloe vera juice up to the evening. This job is tiresome and makes my body weak, I only get enough time to relax in the evening knowing that I have accomplished all my tasks of the day makes me pleased.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Lack of enough finances to take my child for proper medical care has been the biggest hardship in my life. My casual activity of Aloe vera juice tapping earns me very little income of utmost 20 dollars per month. This income can not fully support our necessities like food, shelter, and the medical expense of my child. This has compelled me to forgo the monthly therapy for food for the family.