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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Enrollment
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Completed
Newsfeed > Susan's Profile
Susan's family
Susan
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
37
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Susan's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I was able to purchase sand and meet most of my pressing needs within a very short time. What amazes me most is that after achieving all these, I don't need to refund the money. The idea of giving out unconditional transfers was a very unique and most efficient way of helping the needy like me.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months, I have an additional goal of saving enough money that will enable me to plaster my house. The house that I built recently was almost collapsing because of the many cracks that had formed. I feel hopeful and proud at the same time because all my hard work will not have gone to waste. I am also planning to purchase a few seats. I thank Give Directly for empowering me financially. I couldn't have done all these at once
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have been saving my monthly transfer in a merry-go-round and when I earned my share I bought a truck of sand. I am planning to use it to plaster my house that had cracks all over the walls and floor. I already constructed a house but I didn't have enough money to have proper finishing. Therefore, the walls ended up cracking and the floor wasn't appealing. I used to get embarrassed because of this. The biggest difference in my daily life is the fact that I now have the means to plaster my house. I feel proud and happy because very soon will be living in a decent house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have bought cows. After sorting out the most urgent duties, I now want to invest through the cows. I know of where to buy the dairy cows at a cheaper price, and I also have a few skills of how to both take care of and upgrade them in order to achieve the best results. I will save my monthly income and ensure I buy a cow very soon.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it would have been had I not received the recent transfer in that I feel proud having bought cement with part of my transfer. I have always desired to stay in a permanent house but due to my low income, I have not been able to. When I received the transfer, I bought cement which I will use in plastering my house. In as much as I would not have achieved what I had desired to have but plastering my house will be fulfilling. Having these cement assures me that I will finally achieve my dream
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I'm glad I already have part of the materials which I'm planning to use to plaster my house. I have not managed to purchase all the required materials because I do not have enough money. In the next four months of my life, I have a dream of saving some money to buy all the required materials such as sand and cement so that I can finally plaster the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months is that I now know I will finally fulfill my dream of leaving in a plastered house, I never imagined that I would ever stay in a semi-permanent house. This is because I couldn't afford it. The moment we started receiving the GD money, we formed a merry-go-round group where we contribute monthly. Every month we give one of us our contribution. When I received my share, I used it to buy cement which I'm planning to use to plaster the house.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have plastered my house. I know I will have raised enough money to buy all the requirements to plaster my house including labor money for the masons. This will make me proud and in addition to that, I won't be spending much time to look for clay to smear the house as it has been the case.
 
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?
My life is currently different from how it was four months ago because, with the monthly transfers, I do not have to use my daily earnings on my household development projects. Instead, I used my earnings to acquire food for my household thus life has become easier than it was before. There was no day we had to go without meals due to lack of money in the last four months.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
The additional goal in my life in the next four months is to acquire some bags of cement which I will use to complete plastering my house. Once my house will be fully plastered, I will no longer suffer from dust related health problems. Moreover, I will be relieved from regular smearing of my house with cow dung which is time-consuming work.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is having saved my transfers and succeeding in buying a tonne of sand which I will use to cement my house. It had not been easy to build such an amount of savings. I have been having an unreliable source of income which had limited my plans until GiveDirectly enrolled me in its program. Nowadays, I have peace in mind because my primary goal of improving my house will soon become a reality.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have completed renovating my house. I will, thereafter, buy a set of chairs since I do not have any good chair, except the old and broken wooden seats which I have been fixing every now and then. Acquisition of new chairs will change the outlook of my house. Furthermore, I will no longer have to borrow chairs from my neighbors in the event I have visitors.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different because my saving has been made easier unlike before, I had to toil the whole month to save at times even failed to and I was fined.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months I am planning to save towards putting up a permanet house for my family.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference is that I can save comfortably in the women's group kowing that at the end of the month I expect a transfer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have started building the permanent house for family. My chuildren are really longing to have an experience of the house.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have a new goal of renovating my house which is currently mud-walled. I also have a goal of purchasing furniture to furnish the renovated house.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different because my plans which could not be accomplished before the transfer will now be accomplished.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would be able to expand my business and operate it under large scale.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that I have acquired peace of mind with the assurance that I will be able to receive some cash at the end of every month.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is, how to get money for school fees,food and improving my house by plastering it and equipping it with furniture.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is, in the evening after I am through with the days work and I am home, relaxing with my children as we take a meal.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend a bigger part of my transfer, to plaster my house, buy furniture, by a cow that can pay for my dowry which my husband died before paying. I also want to save some money for school fees.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is,building a house. I used to sleep with my children at my brother in law's house for eleven years after the death of my husband. After saving some money through casual labour, I now have my home.