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 > Peninah's Profile
Peninah's family
Peninah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Forestry (e.g rubber tapping)
faceAge:
50
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Peninah's next check-in.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
45000 KES ($335 USD)
access_time 12 months ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Farming on a leasehold has proven to be a challenging task, as poor management practices often lead to significant losses. The harsh weather conditions, characterized by prolonged droughts, have made it even harder for me to irrigate my crops fully due to a lack of a generator. To address this issue, I plan to save up from my farm's proceeds and purchase a small but efficient generator that can pump enough water to irrigate my crops adequately. This investment will not only benefit my farm but also other farmers who may hire my generator for their farms.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am grateful for the support I received because without it, I wouldn't have survived. After the lake water displaced us from our land, purchasing food became a difficult task, but the free and unconditional cash transfer made it possible. However, we wish that this support could continue for a more extended period because we are still facing many unsolved challenges.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
In the past, I owned a large piece of land along the lake where I farmed and provided enough food for my family of eight. Unfortunately, a few years ago, heavy rainfall caused the lake to swell, submerging my entire land. The land was no longer safe, and we had to evacuate. Since then, we have been living on a temporary piece of land where I cannot farm or build permanent structures, and we have been relying on casual labor to make ends meet. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I was able to purchase construction materials such as iron sheets and nails to build a new house for my family. Additionally, I spent $6 on furniture, $9 on bedding, $74 on equipping my daughter who was joining a new school, $69 on foodstuff, and $78 on a solar lighting system from Sunking to replace candles and torches. The remaining amount was saved and used to buy household items to support my daughter and her newborn baby. Thanks to GiveDirectly, I am now able to rebuild my home, provide for my family, and create a better future for my daughter and her child.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
18010 KES ($144 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was alone with the phone in my hand when I received a message confirming the receipt of money, but I could not tell how much it was or who sent it. I could not read and had to call my helper, who informed me after reading that this was the most anticipated support from GiveDirectly. I was incredibly happy and grateful that the plans we had thought up would soon come to fruition. I informed my family members, who were delighted, and planned to collect the money the next day at a nearby shopping center.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the great joy of spending freely from my pocket on items that we had hoped to obtain for our household. For a long time, I would only buy enough food for that day, but GiveDirectly changed everything, and for the first time, I purchased a full bag of corn in cash, along with other household items. I am hoping that the second transfer will still do a lot for us, and that by the end of the program, I will have seen a lot of change in my home.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Our plans were clear from the beginning when we enrolled because we were already aware of the difficulties in our household. After collecting a portion of it in a nearby shopping center, I spent $55 on a sack of maize, $6 on 10 kg of beans, $6 on five kilograms of sugar, and $3 on transportation to my door via motorcycle taxi. Food had to come first because my husband and I were struggling to put food on the table without a steady source of income. Since I had some money in the account, I spent another $50 on Christmas celebrations, which included purchasing food and clothing for my children. In addition, I spent $10 on two water containers, $7 on two washing basins, and the rest on other household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 1 year ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
My family of 6 live on the shores of Lake Bogoria with the surroundings of thickets and frequent visitation of crocodiles, snakes, hippos, hyenas, frogs and leopards. Although we stay up late to protect the goats from these animals, our efforts sometimes go futile. Last year, for instance, my 6 goats were eaten by hyenas leaving behind 9. It saddens me because this was the only source of income for my family as we always sell to pay school fees for my children. To get on my feet again, I intend to use $300 to purchase goats. I am hopeful that they will breed in numbers and that I can once again be financially stable. In addition, I will build a 2 roomed iron roof house for my elder boys to be sleeping there instead of borrowing sleep. I will be glad to restore my dignity as a responsible parent.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Global warming has affected the climatic changes in my area to an extent with prolonged periods of drought and hunger. My cows were greatly affected because the grazing fields were depleted and they could no longer get food to eat and 4 cows died. Fortunately, when it rains here it pours! I am glad that they are regaining weight and are yet to get to their usual size. This puts a smile on my face as I can now sell them in times of financial crisis to purchase food for the household.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
When Lake Bogoria broke its banks, my family of 6 was vastly affected by floods. Luckily, we were evicted to safer grounds leaving behind the then-productive farms where we had planted maize. My life changed as we had to engage in other economic activities such as charcoal burning to purchase food for the household. Since then, we have been living from hand to mouth to even going to bed hungry. It pains me for even if the floods subside, this land can no longer be productive because of the salt deposition from the lake.