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 > Margaret's Profile
Margaret's family
Margaret
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Other
faceAge:
38
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($421 USD)
access_time 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I currently work for the NEPAC organization, where we assist many vulnerable people and I also sell maize as part time job. I want to grow my maize selling business and add cereals to it once I have enough money. The $2 profit that I usually get from my business is not even enough to stock any goods to my business, so I'm planning to really work hard to be able to expand my business and enable me live a more luxurious life.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly has truly transformed my life, elevating me from grass to grass and from one degree to the next. I am so grateful to GiveDirectly for everything it has done for my family and I. The unconditional transfers I received has really brought about great changes in my life. I am forever grateful.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
The 3 cows that I have are not dairy cows. Every morning I would wake up and buy milk from a kiosk and the milk costs around $1 that really interfered with my day to day budgeting. The fact that I had no dairy cow made me feel bad because most of my neighbors were enjoying themselves and happily milked their cows while I had to incur cost just to get my family milk. The moment I received my transfers, I made an agreement with myself that I must go and get myself a dairy cow that I would be milking and consuming as much milk as I wanted. I spent $450 on buying the dairy cow, and since school was opening and I had not settled my children's fees, I used $50 to pay their debts and the remaining amount of $30 I bought food that we really got to enjoy with my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($473 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
It was a few minutes to 8 am while taking breaking with my kids when I heard a message alert on my phone. On checking my firstborn confirmed that I had received KES 55,000 from GiveDirectly. I was very happy and immediately send for the electricity wiring materials.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I received the transfers is access to electricity. As a result, my house and the whole compound are well lit because I have also installed security lights. Additionally, my kids can do their homework comfortably unlike before when they used to borrow my phone to study. Secondly, through the transfers, I cleared my kids school feed for this term. As a result, I am at peace because my kids are studying comfortably without distractions.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a mother of four, a community health worker, and my husband works as a police officer. I normally rely on maize and dairy farming for food to reduce household costs. When GiveDirectly transfers arrived my major challenge was the lack of electricity in my house and yet it was in our locality already. I, therefore, spent KES 17,000 on the installation of electricity in my house. As a result, my house is well lit and my kids can study well. Earlier, I used a solar lighting system but was not reliable because of the faulty battery. Secondly, I spent KES 5,000 on a bag of maize of which the remaining will sustain us for the next week. This is because our maize crop was affected by the maize pandemic in the last season. Thirdly, I also spent KES 22,500 on school fees payment for my kids in high school and primary school. This is because my firstborn just joined the high school. Lastly, I spent KES 3,000 on the latest clothing fashion for my kids which are more decent compared to the ones they normally wear.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I live in a house that is halfway complete and since the walls are made of timber the gaps between them make the house cold. This is not suitable for my young children and they often catch a cold because of this. I desire to fully furnish my house by sealing all the gaps for KES 35000. Receiving this money will enable me to complete my house to make it warm enough for my young children.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My husband is a police officer and he is always away on missions. Last month he came home and having him around was my ultimate source of happiness
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My daughter sat for her Kenya Certificate of Primary Education and she is set to join high school in May this year. The biggest challenge that I have is raising school fees for her form one admission. I am required to have KES 70000 by may and as we talk I do not have even a single coin in my pocket. I am worried that she might miss to join the school of her choice in the event that I do not raise the required amount.