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.
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Newsfeed > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
40
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mary's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal for the next four months is to ensure I pay school fees arrears for my 3 children in secondary school in time. I am not always a happy parent when my children are sent home because of fees arrears. This shows I am not committed to giving the best for my children which is not the case. This is why I have decided to dedicated my transfers to ensure I clear all their fees arrears in time.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
It has always been my dream to own livestock just like my neighbours. In my community, whoever does not have any kind of livestock is considered poor. I have had this name for long because I did not have a good income. I only depended on a small income from casual work of ploughing on other peoples' farm. As a result, I would only be able to raise enough money to feed my family and meet other basic family needs. With GD transfers, I have managed to meet all my urgent needs of the family and spare some amount which I used in buying a sheep. Right now, the one I bought has reproduced and I have two. I know they will continue reproducing and very soon I will also own a number which I can sell and use the money to buy cows. This has been my pride because when people are talking about livestock, I am able to contribute to the story unlike before when I would only look at them. I am glad GD has given me pride in the village which I was not able to get on my own.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
After paying school fees arrears for my children, I would want to save part of my transfers to buy a calf. I have always desired to own herds of cattle just like my father used to. I would also want to be rich in terms of livestock which has proven to be very helpful when it comes to raising money very quickly. When I have cows, I can be able to sell some to raise money to meet other needs with ease without having to go into debts and I would not be bothered about fees again. There is also pride that owning cows in my area. I would always want to have the best just like everyone else.
 
19th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Previously I couldn't afford to sleep peacefully because I didn't have a mattress. Instead, I had a mat on the bed which was not comfortable at all. I used to wake up every day in the middle of the night with painful ribs due to the discomfort while sleeping. I'm proud this is not the case anymore because I was able to purchase a mattress with the previous transfers. In addition to that, I no longer borrow seats from neighbors whenever I have visitors neither do my household members sit on the ground. This is because I bought enough decent seats with the part of the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have a cow at the moment. I wish to have one because cows are so beneficial. I have many responsibilities and I believe if I raise cows I won't be facing challenges meeting them. For instance, all my kids are going to school and I need to pay school fees for all of them. The cows will come in handy because I can sell their young ones in the future in order to raise the school fees. Therefore, for the next four months, I have an additional goal to purchase a cow with the coming transfers in order to help me achieve this dream of schooling all my kids without taking loans.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I didn't have seats in my house; I only had two stools. I have been saving part of my transfers in a merry-go-round and when I earned my share I used it to purchase decent chairs. I'm happy and I feel so proud because my household members no longer sit on the ground. So far this is the biggest difference in my daily life.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
The kitchen I am using currently is grass thatched. The roof is in a bad condition such that it leaks during rainy seasons. This forces me to purchase grass twice a year for repairing the roof which is very costly. I'm planning to save the coming transfers and purchase iron sheets so that I can change the current leaking roof once and for all. I'm hopeful that in the next six months I'll have constructed a new roof.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life has had a little turn within the last four months because in most cases I have been using the money to buy food for the family so that nobody goes hungry. I have a big family and fending for them is not an easy task so that is why I endure that in most cases, the money goes into the purchase of food.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to make sure that my husband gets a few domestic livestock such as cows and goats which we will use to pay my own dowry within the foreseeable future. We had not been able to accomplish this customary requirement before because our financial ability has been very low.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that the money has helped me to pay school fees for my children who now go to school without constant interruptions like it used to happen before. Initially, my kids could not go to school for two weeks before being sent away due to lack of school fees payment but ever since I started getting the monthly transfers from Give Directly, the frequency of interruptions has really gone down tremendously.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I want to make sure that I get a few iron sheets which we will use to build new roofing for my grass-thatched kitchen structure which keeps leaking terribly especially during this rainy season. It, therefore, becomes quite a stressful event having to cook in such an environment.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different from how it was four months ago because my children can stay in school and attend their lessons without the fear of being sent home for school fee balances. I believe their grades will improve remarkably because lately, they attend all lessons unlike the past when they spent more time helping me to look for money to pay their school fee. My living standard has also improved because from the monthly transfers I am capable of feeding my family and meeting most of the household pressing needs.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal is to buy nice chairs to sit on in my house. I currently have only two chairs which are not enough for my family of ten members. I believe that in the next four months I shall have bought more chairs and my family members will be sitting comfortably while enjoying their meals. Having more chairs in my living room will also make it look smart and organized.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that my problem of paying a fee for my children in secondary school has been solved. earlier on I could not pay their school fee on time which resulted in them being sent home for school fee quite frequently. this would result in them missing lessons and eventually dropping in their grades. I am glad GiveDirectly helped me solve this problem and now my children can stay in school without being sent home for fees until the term ends.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have bought new chairs in my house such that I will be free to welcome my guests especially my small Christian group without feeling ashamed that they will have no chairs to sit on. We will also be able to enjoy our meals from the same table as a family since there will be enough chairs for us to sit on.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am now living a more comfortable life and I do not have to engage so much in the casual labor in order to make some cash.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have started new iron sheets that I will use to erect a new structure when the numbers get to the number I am looking for.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to buy food comfortably without so much hustles like I used to struggle before. I also pay school fees with utmost ease unlike how I used to strain before.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I believe I will have collected enough building materials and I will have a new house by then, something that has always just remained a dream to me.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal is to own small livestock initially, and eventually cattle and create wealth.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that both my husband and I can join forces tovaccomplish projects
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months I expect my life to change in that I should own a better kitchen
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 did not have money to repay loan but GD payment saved me.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have ever faced in life was in 2011 when my newly built house burnt down,together with all my assets.This really devastated me as we had no money to build a new house and buy the basic household requirements. It was a tough time as we entirely depended on well wishers for food, clothing and shelter.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the afternoon when I have completed all my household chores and I have free time to take a nap and rest.During this time,the children are away in school,so there is peace and quiet in the house.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend most of my transfer on paying school fees for my two children currently in form one and class eight respectively. I will spend the rest of it on food,so that my family can get a balanced diet.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is supporting my husband financially to build a house in our own compound.This has given me much needed peace since we moved away from my quarrelsome in-laws.