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 > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
52
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($485 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is different than it would have been if I never received the transfer in that I live a better life. Currently, I am able to meet the needs of my family like food and clothing without struggling after boosting my husband's charcoal business using my first transfer. The income from his job has increased from a profit of KES500 to KES 700 per day. In addition, I was able to boost my livestock rearing by adding more goats.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly did well in sending us direct unconditional cash transfers to our accounts. The transfers have brought hope to the hopeless and restored the joy of many less privileged households in the village. Through the transfer, there is a lot of development in my village. I don't see anything going wrong during the enrollment process since it open and fair.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent my transfer to purchase 5 more goats for KES13500 this was for upgrading my goat rearing, a long-time investment that I will rely on for assistance whenever I face any economic challenge in my life. In addition, I also spent KES15000 to purchase a two-acre piece of land for farming this is because the place where I use to farm was too small to produce enough food for the family. The harvest from this small area would feed us for 1.5 months leaving the rest of the year struggling to feed the family. Besides, I bought a metal box for the safekeeping of my important documents for my family member like the land agreement and certificate of my child. This is because they use to be destroyed since I lack a proper area to store them.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($513 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I learned that I had received my first transfer at around 9 AM when I was from the dam. I was overwhelmed with joy since the only message that I had anxiously been waiting for. Without wasting time, I started discussing with my family how best we could utilize the money.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I am now a proud owner of goats. These have been the thoughtful living assets that I have been longing to keep for years but due to the poverty of life, this was not achievable at all. I opted in rearing them because they reproduce twice a year and their offsprings mature faster compared to other domestic animals. Also, their food readily available and this makes it easier for me to look after them. In the few months to come, I am optimistic that they will increase in number and my plan is to sell the matured offsprings and generate an income or even send some of my children to school. Through that, I believe my life will never be the same again courtesy of GiveDirectly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some livestock which includes some goats that I am currently keeping in my homestead. I also expanded my business of selling some charcoal which I was currently running and it was not so well because sometimes I was utilizing the capital. I later bought some building materials such as some bags of cement, sand, and brick purposely for the renovation of my house which was almost collapsing. I also bought some beddings which include a wooden bed and a mattress to replace the old sacks that I have been using as beddings. With the remaing amount, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and some other household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
The most priority thing that I have ever desired to have in my life is sleeping on a modern bed and a mattress, but due to the financial instability in my household, I have never managed to own this. With the grant from GiveDirectly, I am hoping to change this status quo since I am planning to spend $150 to buy the beddings. On the other hand, I intend to start livestock keeping to act as my long term project because it is the only investment I can do in our area. To accomplish this, I will buy 2 indigenous dairy cows and 5 goats at $300 and $200 respectively. This will change my living standard for the better, a livelihood that I have ever wished for a long time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The evening is the happiest part of my day because I usually get maximum time to talk with my grandchildren when they are back from school. Unlike in the morning and afternoon hours when I am always alone doing household chores and farm work respectively.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The financial crisis is the biggest hardship that I have ever faced in my life. This is because I am a housewife and I majorly depend on my husband who is a casual laborer at Mombasa. Due to his low income, skipping meals has been the case in some days something that forces us to seek help from relatives. I am now a happy person after knowing that, soon I will be living a better life with help from GiveDirectly.