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 > Simeon's Profile
Simeon's family
Simeon
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
41
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53075 KES ($525 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference in my life is that I am now staying in a very nice comfortable house that I am not worried of it's falling down any time. My family is also now staying in a very comfortable spacious house where they can move free and have enough space to do a their things. I no longer spend money to buy parrafin as i used to do before rather I always spend that money to buy households, I am very happy because life has become a bit cheaper because I also use the solar to charge for people their phones and get money for my up keep.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion give directly did a very good thing by give us a non refundable transfer because most of us could have managed to return the money since majority are very poor. It was also a good think to give people unconditional transfer because people have different priorities to attend to.
What did you spend your second transfer on?
I spent most of the transfer to buy building materials and built a spacious comfortable house. I was staying in a very old small house that could not accommodate with my family well since I have a large family. The house was also very old that it was almost falling down being that the wall had become very weak. I was also tire of repairing the house by using cow dang to smearing the wall, so when I decided to built another house I bought enough iron sheets that also use to build the wall. Since I built my new house, I am very comfortable because I do not need to worry of it falling down, I also no longer use cow dang to smear the wall being it is well built by using ironsheet. The remaining balance I spent to buy solar system for lighting my house. I was using tin lump to light the house and this was very expensive because I had to spend alot of money every day buying parrafin.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($548 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 6 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money will really uplift my living standards because I am planning to use my transfer to repair my leaking roof and the remaining to buy farm inputs to improve my harvest in the coming seasons.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when listening to my favourite radio station after working in the farm.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in life is that I could not complete my studies due to lack of school fee, and after dropping out I had to work hard to help my mother feed my siblings after my father passed on.