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 > Bahati's Profile
Bahati's family
Bahati
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($468 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Yes after completing my transfers, I developed a goal which was to own livestock. The goats would be of great help to me because normally they reproduce twice a year and their offspring mature faster. Therefore since the main challenge I was experiencing was paying school fees for my kids, I felt the goats would be of great help. I am still optimistic that I will own them soon.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
According to me GiveDirectly is the best organization I have ever come across so far. This is because the money was sent directly to our Mpesa account without involving any governmental offices. Also, I was given reasonable teachings on how best I would utilize the transfers. Therefore I do not see any part GiveDirectly failed us.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my second transfer on buying building materials which are comprised of iron sheets at KES 20500, timber, nails, and the labor charge of KES 10000. This was for the construction of a new house because the previous one was very small and its structural condition was not good at all. With a family of eight members, it couldn't accommodate us, therefore some of my children had to shelter at their friend's houses which were relatively far away from the village we lived in. Also, I bought new clothes for the Christmas celebrations and I must admit this was their most memorable one. They never had a chance to put on new clothes during the features seasons. Finally, with the amount of money that had remained, I bought foodstuffs and other household items.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt so grateful the moment I received the money because it gave me the ability to address and meet the needs that were so pressing, which I had little or no ability at all to address. We could hardly afford a meal a day, and school fees for my children was a constant nightmare with the accumulation of arrears. Therefore, I was very grateful when I received the money because I really needed it and I didn't know where I was going to get it from.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I was able to settle my children's school fees arrears and pay their school fees for the following term as well, which was something that I couldn't personally do. I didn't have a bed and mattress, I used to sleep on the floor which was very uncomfortable because I couldn't afford neither did I have the ability to get one. Right now, however thanks to GiveDirectly, I now have a bed and mattress, my children are in school and I am so grateful and happy.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of my transfer on my seven children's school fees which cost a total of KES 20000, who are five girls and two boys. I did this because I know how important education is and I did not want to keep the money and end up misusing or misappropriating it as well as put it into other uses and fail to settle my children's school fees arrears. Therefore, I settled my children's school fees arrears and paid their school fees for the following term as well. I believe that not only is it my responsibility to educate my children but it is also something that I can always count because with a good education, children will be employed and they will help me in the future. I also spent KES 7000 in materials for my new and bigger house because the one we have been having is so small for our expanding family, as well as our children are growing up and according to our culture and customs, it is not right for parents to share a room with their grown up children. Therefore, I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for enabling me get another house.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My house is very small.I am living in a single bedroomed mud house . I am a mother of 7 children of which the first child is a girl aged 15 years old. I have been dreaming to have a big house which has privacy to my children . My daughter depends on sleeping on my in-law's house, something which irritates me very much.Receiving this money means I will build a 4 bedroom house to accomodate all my family, live and sleep happly like others.
What is the happiest part of your day?
When I wake up in the morning, I usually cook porridge for my children and see them to school. I embark on my charcoal business until in the evening when I come back home from the forest.I cook and serve food to my children and we enjoy what we have for that day. Seeing my children enjoying the food together in this time makes me very happy because I believe I have ended the day well.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is lucking a good house to live in .My house is small and I cannot raise money to build a good house. My husband is employed as a night watchman in Mombasa and I am doing charcoal burning business of which our earnings cannot cater for our daily family needs .If I receive this money, I will build a house for my family because I am expiriencing difficulties even to talk with my husband in the night.