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 > Mercy's Profile
Mercy's family
Mercy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
32
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mercy's next check-in.
 
24th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 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?
I do not have any new or additional goal for the next four months except to be able to continue accumulating enough money and pay school fees for my children. By so doing, I am optimistic that they will achieve the best results and they will be a great resource to me in future once they have completed their education and gotten jobs.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life that has happened over the last four months preceding the current transfer is the ability to pay my school fee in time. I have been able to accumulate the money from my casual works together with the monthly income from GiveDirectly and pay school fees for my children in time. This has seen my children stay in school all year round and has resulted in their good performance in school as well. I feel that had it not been for this transfers, I would not have been able to raise their school fee in time and this would have interfered with their education.
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 shall have taken my children through their secondary education as I even get prepared to pay their college fee in future. My focus right now is to give them the best education as an assurance of a better future.
 
20th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My goal is to continue paying school fees for my child in a secondary school. I don't have a new goal, just to make sure that she gets her education. This will secure her future and give us a better chance in life as a family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is the help that I get in paying school fees. My only source of income is doing domestic work for other people. The wages I get are very little and I have to work extremely hard. I usually work as a house help and the salary I get is what I top up with transfers to pay school fees for my child. I am so glad that these transfers have ease things up for me.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have improved my life by buying sheep. I want to save money every month. I will rear the sheep and allow it to multiply. I hope to use this investment to start a shop business. In really looking forward to a better life in the future.
 
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?
Currently, I do not have to worry much because I managed to clear my child's school fees on time. Before I would struggle much and my child would spend weeks at home due to lack of school fees. Now am happy that she is in school. This was made possible with the monthly transfer which I received from Give Directly.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I do not have an additional goal soon apart from paying school fees for my daughter. This had been a big challenge to me and will not like to prioritize on other things apart from my child's education. I believe investing in education is the best of all as this will guarantee my child a better future.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Before Give Directly came to our village, I use to struggle to make ends meet on a daily basis. I was struggling to pay school fees for my child and get some money for buying food. This would force me to wake up early and get to the market to buy and sell food items. With this, I wouldn't manage it all and some time had to seek casual jobs to supplement my income. In the last four months, I was able to pay school fees for my child with less struggle and this has brought me happiness. Now my child would not be sent home for school fees. Now with the little which I earn from my business, I got to spend on food.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
Receiving monthly transfer from Give Directly will enable me to pay school fees for my child and the little earning which I get from my business I will start saving to expand my business with the intention of earning more profit. This will enable me to change my living standards and will be like any other married person since am a single parent.
 
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?
Currently, I have no much worries on how to get school fees for my child. Unlike before I could do a lot of casual jobs and end up not having enough money to clear schools fees on time. This was stressing to see my child staying at home. Thanks to GiveDirectly. The transfers have reduced the burden of doing a lot of casual jobs. I usually save the transfer for two months and use them to pay school fees.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I have no new goal as at now because I am still struggling to pay school fees for my child who is in secondary education. I want to prioritize on the fee payment first.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I am able to pay my child school fees on time unlike before. My main source of income is casual jobs. The income from this job was not enough to pay arrears on time because sometimes it was hard to get them. This is because most of the people depend on casual jobs hence we compete for the little available ones. This could lead to my children staying at home. The transfer has enabled me to cater for schools fees. Nowadays I am happy as a parent because I know I have not failed in my responsibilities.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect in the next six months to have purchased chickens. This will assist me with income to pay the school fees for my child. I will manage this by using transfers.
 
6th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($4 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I am a single mother with four children in school. One of them is in secondary school and soon the other three will join him. Since I am a house help, giving them a comfortable life has not been possible because this is my only source of income. This is the biggest hardship I have faced in my life.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning because I find joy in waking up healthy. Waking up in a good mood enables me to plan for the day's activities.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my monthly transfer towards school fee payment for my four children, three of whom are in primary school and one in secondary school.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
I have managed to take my four children to school on my own. I have been employed as a house help for about 3 years now and I have saved up some money from the salary I get so as to pay for their fees and other basic needs. Therefore being able to secure them education is the achievement I am proudest of.