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 > Margaret's Profile
Margaret's family
Margaret
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labour
faceAge:
42
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Margaret's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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. I have managed to build a house for my family as well as I can support the basic needs of my household something that I was not able to do before.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to build a kitchen that can act as a room for my children as well.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
My son was very sick and needed to seek a dentist's consultation. The transfers came in handy for him this is because I had no money on me. I managed to take him to the hospital and the tooth that was causing him the pain was removed. Now he is at peace with less pain. I am now a happy mother.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I hope to build a kitchen for my household. This will be of great help as my children will also get a room to spend in during the night.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Buying new school uniform for my children has never been an easy thing for me in the recent past because being a widow, getting money to take care of all the financial needs of the family all by myself has been a stressful affair for me. My kids used to go to school, with tattered clothes which of course was quite embarrassing. However, so far, that has changed a lot because I am able to get them new clothes using the cash transfers that I have been getting from Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have a plan of building a new kitchen structure where the kids will be sleeping. My kids are growing up and I feel it is time for them to get their own privacy in their room where they can do their things privately. I no longer feel comfortable sharing the same roof with them at night.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Paying school fees for the children has not been a stressful affair anymore considering the financial help that I have been getting from the organization. Initially, my kids used to attend their classes on an on and off basis because the teachers could not allow them to be in school without clearing their school fees payment.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to buy a domestic animal such as either a goat or a sheep which I will include into my already existing flock of domestic animals. The advantage of having these animals is that in the event that one runs into a financial crisis, then it becomes easy for me to offset the need by selling out the animals in exchange for cash.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
The transfers have enabled me to keep my children neat and decent especially by being able to replace their school uniforms whenever they are worn out. Because it was so hard to buy new school uniforms before, I would always mend them on my own which did not look very presentable. I am happy that my kids don't have to go to school with patched clothes anymore because I can afford to buy them new ones.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
Over the past few months, I have been purchasing iron sheets which I will use to construct a separate sleeping house for my children who are fast approaching teenage years. I want to keep on that path by buying the materials bit by bit untill I have enough to construct the house. I am getting very uncomfortable sleeping with the kids under the same roof and I am sure they do too because they have no privacy.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I am glad that the little money I have been receiving from GD has kept my family away from starvation that is mostly experienced during such months of the year. During these times, there are not casual jobs making it hard to earn a living especially if one depends on son such jobs just as I do. These transfers have enabled me to put food on my family's table even on those days that I am unable to get any job.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I hope that in the next six months, I will have gathered enough building materials to enable me to construct a separate house for my children so that they have the privacy they deserve as teenagers.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I now have a lot of floating cash which enables me to buy new clothes for my children so that they do not have to keep on wearing the same clothes week in week out, which is a bit uncomfortable and embarrassing.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I want to start a small scale business of buying and re-selling dagaa within the village. This is a business that I had tried pursuing before and I know it will be profitable for me.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been able to buy food for my children effectively ever since I started received the cash from the organization. My kids also have new school uniform which means that everyone has two pairs of uniforms so that they do not have to survive on one pair the week.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to farm effectively using modern fertilizers which will see me get a bumper harvest and have enough food for my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2735 KES ($27 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My newest goal is to plaster the floor of my house.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My children have proper bedding, I now have a functional phone which I was given by Give Directly and I know I will soon have a bigger house since I have started buying iron sheet and my family will be comfortably accommodated.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would really want to expand my house and pay school fees for my children in time so that they do not miss lessons when sent home for the same.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
My children used to have difficult time when sleeping because they had a torn blanket and I was worried they could be affected by pneumonia but thanks to GD, they now sleep well in peace.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is, lack of food since I have a very small piece of land that does not produce enough crops that can take me for even more than two months.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is, in the afternoon when I have got some money from my casual work to buy food for my children and we have meal together.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to, repair my house which is in a bad state, start a small scale business of selling fish to help me get money to pay school fees.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is, having taken care of my family by feeding them and taking them to school up to now even though I don't have a good source of income.