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 > Maurine's Profile
Maurine's family
Maurine
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Office/admin (works for others)
faceAge:
27
workCampaign
FSD / Urban Youth
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($495 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Without GiveDirectly, My life would still be so hard because I would still be relying on casual jobs to meet basic needs. The robust motorcycle taxi business that I immediately started has changed my life. It is a very reliable source of income form which I can even save a good sum on a daily basis. The financial ability is only possible after GD come to my aid.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
I don't have any additional goal at the moment because I am now concentrating on operating the motorcycle taxi business.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my most recent transfer on buying a motorcycle. Over the last five years, my biggest aim had been to acquire one because of the booming taxi business that I have been seeing my friends benefiting from. It is a huge leap towards financial freedom as I am already having a financial breakthrough. I am earning a constant income from the taxi business.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
36800 KES ($367 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different from how it would have been had I never received the transfer since I have been able to pay a down payment for my motorbike. Because of this, I am now optimistic that I will own one soon and I will not have to continue relying on one source of income. Before GiveDirectly came for enrollment, my children were always being sent back home to collect school fees since I was not able to pay them on time. I am now glad because all this has changed because I have been able to pay their school fees and a small amount is remaining which I am optimistic that I will have paid it before this term ends. This has made my children concentrate more on their studies as they no longer miss their classes and I am quite sure that their studies will tremendously change this year.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life?
My additional goal in life that I didn't have before receiving the transfer is to open a second hand clothes business. With this, I will have a diversified source of income. I will majorly be using the income generated from this business to cater for my children's education and save some money to use in case of an emergency while the income generated from the motorcycle business will cater for our daily needs. By doing so, my family will never lack some basic needs they need for themselves.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
It has always been my dream to own a motorcycle and when I received my most recent transfer, I spent the whole amount to pay a down payment for it. I have brother who finished his secondary school education and has not been able to join a tertiary institution to further his studies. He will be the one to operate this motorbike and he will be giving me some money at the end of each day after paying himself. I decided on this because I will not be the only person who will benefit from this business as I will be paying him on a daily basis. I will be using the income generated each day from it to cater for my children's basic needs and education.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
20000 KES ($200 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to start a cloth business. The kind of borrowing I went through before getting this transfer, I would not want to go back to it again. I will invest in the business and from the profits, I will be able to help my mother solve family needs and to develop myself financially by saving and expanding the business.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life is that my younger sister who dropped out of school due to school fees last year is now back in school. She had stayed home for a period of four months as we were still looking for the money to pay. My mother depends on casual work of ploughing and washing for others so she was not able to raise much to cater for all our family needs and pay for her school fees. This is the reason why my sister could no longer go to school as we even tried going for bursary funds but we were not successful. I am happy because she is now back in school and treats me with more respect as I came to her aid.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my first transfer on paying school fees for my two children. They had been sent home for the same and I had to go talk to the teachers to allow them back in school as I was still looking for the money. They had stayed home for two weeks and still, nothing was forthcoming. I got worried and decided to talk to the teachers to help me as I was still looking for the money. I also used part of the transfers as fare to attend the funeral for my late grandmother who died in December. The remaining part of it, I used in buying a goat. This is an investment which I can later sell to raise money for other emergencies. The value of the goat increases on daily basis and it does not require much to keep it. When it reproduces, I will be able to sell them and buy cows for my parents. This will reduce the poverty level in our family.
Describe the moment when you started receiving transfers. How did you feel?
I was very happy. I could not believe my eyes. I was so confused and tears coming out. I knew my problems were solved yet I had not worked for the money. I really thank GD for this life-changing opportunity.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 5 years ago
 
What do you plan to do with the cash transfer?
I prioritize like that because first I would like to start my own business of buying and selling clothes so that I can have a stable income to support myself and my family. Secondly, I will use it to buy household items and shopping for my children for Christmas. Lastly, I will also help my husband with house rent because sometimes it's a challenge and fail to get rent and it makes landlord to come and disturb our peace.
Describe your biggest worry.
My top concern is my children. Am worried about how and whether they will go to school and have a better education so that in future they can get jobs or even have stable business of their own. Secondly, achieving my ambitions in my worry because without meeting my goals there will be no change in my life and hence my children won't have the bright future I want for them. Lastly, am worried about my marriage. I don't know whether we will be together forever because sometimes we always have issues that am not able to handle.
What are your greatest ambitions?
My ambition in life is to own my house and give my children a better future by giving them good education and support they need in life. I want my to have good jobs or business so that they can be independent and also able to support themselves.
Describe your usual day. How do you spend your time?
In the morning once I wake up I prepare myself then do household chores. I also prepare my children so that they can go to school. Once I have taken tea I go to work till 5pm in the evening. Once am back I buy food for supper then start cooking supper. After that we eat rest for a while then later go to bed.