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 > Maina's Profile
Maina's family
Maina
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
38
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?
As I was brought up, my parents taught me how to make my life better through farming. This is why I have always believed my life can only change through farming. I had hoped one day I will have a breakthrough in farming in as much as I had nothing to prove it. When I received the transfer, I knew God had answered my prayer and now that I have the kind of land I wanted, my life will never be the same but will continue to get better every year.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GD has done well in change lives in our community. The community looks new, unlike the one we had before the transfers. There are new houses, new business and the children who dropped out of school are back in school. I feel GD did well in everything and I don't see anything they could have done better.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent my second transfer on buying a piece of land which I use for farming activities. I had desired to do farming on a large scale because that was the only way I could get the kind of harvest I wanted. Due to limited land, I was forced to use what I had. It was a small piece of land which I inherited and could not buy another land since I did not have the resources to. With GD transfers, I bought a 2-acre piece of land which has been very helpful in terms of farming. When I havest, I get a good harvest which helps me meet most of my needs with just a single harvest unlike before. I would go for three harvests before I could successfully handle a task. I also used part of the transfers to buy hybrid seed and fertilizer which I used on my farm. As a result, I got the highest harvest of 20 sacks of maize which has only been a dream. In our village, I have the record of the one who had the most harvest in one season.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($529 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
I always struggle to see that I gather enough resource that will help me meet my family needs at the time of my old age thus I invest in assets that with time will add value. The biggest difference in my life is the cow that I bought using part of my first transfer since this an added asset in my family and with time we will start getting milk from for both household consumption and sale and also calves that will be financial needs security in the coming future. I am happy that I have been empowered by GD to meet my goals in life hence I have hopes of a better future for my family.
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was awoken by incoming message notification on my phone around 5:00 in the morning of that day. I took a step to check and to my surprise, it was a message from Mpesa notifying me that I had received money from GiveDirectly. I felt so happy and thankful to GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your first transfer on?
Even though I am lucky to be employed, I always struggle to invest and bring more assets to my family to help me in future meet any financial needs arising. I used KES23000 of my first transfer to buy a cow to add to the one I had since this is an asset that with time I will be getting milk from both household consumption and sales. I had built a house but due to overwhelming financial needs in my family I have not been able to complete it hence, I took KES18000 of my fist transfer to complete and so happy I have a decent house that I could not have completed if it was for GiveDirectly. I have planned to save the remaining amount to help me in my daily household need and on buying chicken feeds.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 5 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will help me add stock to my shop.I have a small shop and I had a plan of extending and stocking it more.I am also planning to buy a dairy cow to add to the two that I have.This will help boost my income.
What is the happiest part of your day?
After I prepare my children to go to school,I milk the cows then head to the nearest dispensary where I work as at the pharmacy.I come back at around five o'clock in the evening.Evening is the happiest part of my day since I get to reunite with my family after a long day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have had in my life is raising up children.Its not easy especially when they are still young.I lost a child two years ago after struggling with kidney failure for nine years.This was my lowest moment.The child had to undergo dialysis every three days which was very expensive for us and moreso painful.We held a fundraising to cater for further treatment abroad but it was too late.He passed on just before we travelled.This was very hard for me to overcome as a parent.