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
attach_money
 
Transfers
check
Completed
Newsfeed > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
54
workCampaign
Standard Kenya
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
48200 KES ($465 USD)
access_time over 7 years ago
check
 
What did you spend your third transfer on?
I used a portion of the transfer to buy a cow. I purchased some building materials. I also bought my family clothes.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
The biggest difference in my life is that I'm stress free. I was always stressed up searching for my high school son fee but since I received the transfer, I'm done with his fee.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, what GD does well is that it has improved the living standard of the extreemly poor people in the community otherwise I'm not sure of what GD doesn't do well.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
50000 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 7 years ago
attach_money
 
What did you spend your second transfer on?
When I received my second transfer,I spent on building materials: I bought wire mesh, a lorry of ballast, a lorry of sand and loamy soil that I will soon be using for the construction of a permanent house. My husband died and left me in a a very bad house-one which is dusty and tiny and therefore I was afraid it could compromise our health so if I received this money, I had to think the best way it could change my life i.e. constructing a better house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that as we talk, I can afford a square meal. Some parts of the money has been helping us on buying food and therefore we can never miss even a single meal as before.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
10000 KES ($96 USD)
access_time almost 8 years ago
attach_money
 
What did you spend your first transfer on?
I spent my first transfer on buying food, one sack of maize, polls, fencing my home and I also payed school fees for my son who is in fourth form
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt very happy for receiving the cash, I thanked God because this gave me hope for being able to pay school fees for my children and it also gave me hope of fencing my compound that I had been planning to do for a very long time
 
Enrolled
access_time 8 years ago
 
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfer to pay fees for my son who is in form three, and then buy at least one cow.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is the support that I have continued to give my children after the death of their father.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I am facing is lack of any steady stream of income, because I depend entirely on farming, which sometimes don't do well.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I am sweeping and tidying up my house.