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 > Benedeta's Profile
Benedeta's family
Benedeta
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
74
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
attach_money
 
Follow to be updated on Benedeta's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a new goal of buying a sheep. It has been my desire to have livestock which I can later sell when they reproduce and raise money for my other needs. This is also an investment which requires minimal resources to keep and I can do that comfortably. I will always be having livestock in my compound as my neighbours.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have improved harvest from what I used to get back then. Farming has been my main source of income for years now and having ploughed the same plot over and over, its production has really reduced. Since I did not have the resources to boost its fertility, I had to be contented with what I used to get. I felt I was struggling and not getting the expected harvest. When I started getting my transfers, I thought of a better way of making my life better and I resolved on farming still. I knew I could not thrive in business since I was not well educated and it does not do well here in my village. This is why I chose to start using improved farm inputs such as fertilizer and hybrid seeds on the same plot. As a result, my harvest has increased from 1 sack which I used to get and now I get a minimum of 5 sacks when I harvest. This has really changed my life because we have enough food in the house and whenever I have any financial emergency, I can sell some of the harvests to raise money to handle my needs comfortably without begging nor borrowing. I no longer have to bother my children to support me as before and I feel my financial burden has been reduced.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be different in the next six months in that I will have built a new house. Currently, the house I am living in has a rusty roof and leaking as well. It is a house I built four years ago and because I did not have much resources and income, I have not been able to build a new house nor even repair it. I first wanted to invest my transfers because I would not be happy staying in a good house without food. After ensuring I have a stable food supply, I now want to build a decent house. Therefore I will use part of my monthly transfers to buy building materials for putting up the house. I know in the next six months I will have raised enough money to buy the materials needed to put up the house.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
In the last four months, my life has changed in that I have iron sheets which I will use to put up a new house. I have been living in a house I built three years ago and the roof is old and the house is leaning on one side. I am afraid one day it might collapse. This is why I have decided to put up a new house so that I may not become homeless soon.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a new goal of continuing to buy building materials such as nails and timber which I still lack. I am planning to have a new house and It is my priority now. I want to focus my transfers on achieving this goal.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have always depended on farming as my main source of income. I have always done my best through farming but I have not always achieved the kind of harvest I have always desired. This is because I have been using local farming methods. Since I started receiving these transfers, I have been using part of my transfers to buy hybrid seeds and fertilizer which I have been using on my farm. As a result, my harvest has really improved from the usual 3 sacks of maize to 7-8 sacks of maize. This has brought a lot of change in my life. I don't struggle anymore.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will change in the next six months in that I will be having a new house and then I plan to buy a cow after that. I would want to have an investment which can bail me out when I have financial emergencies without having to beg or borrow money anymore.
 
15th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have been able to purchase some pieces of iron sheets that I'm planning to use to construct a new house. This gives me the hope that soon I'll be living in a more decent house. With this, I'll be able to have a peaceful night because I won't be worried anymore whether the house will collapse or not. I always dreaded the thought of becoming homeless yet I didn't have the means to construct a new one immediately. I thank God Give Directly came at a time I needed help the most
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to save some money for the next four months of my life. My new goal is to build a house using the savings that I will have accumulated for this period. The current house is old and in bad condition and I fear it might collapse any time. It is a mud-walled house that can't be repaired anymore because the type of soil used is rare to find. The effects of soil erosion have severely affected us because now we have to pay heavily for the soil that we once used to scoop free of charge by the roadside. Since I could not afford the charges I was forced to ignore mending the cracking walls. But I am glad because I will now construct a semi-permanent house that will not require the usage of mud; this means it will last longer than the one I used to live in
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 that life has become less challenging because of the additional income I have been receiving from Give Directly. Through the monthly transfers, I have been able to afford a full day's meal which was not the case before. My kids have started performing well as a result of eating well. I didn't know I was torturing them by not feeding them well. It was not my wish to make them go through the hardships but I now know how important it is to them and I can see the difference in their performance in school and life at large. They are happier and get less often. I am thinking of how to stabilize my sources of income so that they will never suffer
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I don't have a new goal at the moment. I want to focus on ensuring that my house is complete in the next six months. I have been longing to accomplish this goal but due to lack of enough money to construct one has always forced me to stay in this delicate and life-threatening house. I am glad that the hope of finally having a decent house is will soon be achieved. I thank Give Directly for helping me achieve this goal.
 
12th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have a sheep of my own. I have always desired to have at least one type of livestock but due to low income from inconsistent casual work, I could not achieve this dream. I knew with livestock, the value increases every day and when I sell it, I would have money to solve any family financial emergencies. I am glad so far I have not been forced to sell the only one I have but I want to have as many as I can so that if one dies or I sell, I do not go back to where I used to be before the tranfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to buy another sheep. I bought a sheep with part of the transfers and in our area, the best investment one can have is livestock. I know when it reproduces, I will be able to sell them and raise money to buy a cow which is the kind of livestock I want in my life.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving is that I have never missed any meal in my house again. Before the transfers, I really used to struggle to feed my family because of my low income from casual work which was not enough to feed my family and pay school fees for my grandchildren. I have been taking care of since the death of his parents two years ago and I want to give them the best their parents would have given them. Whenever they were sent home, If I did not borrow to pay school fees, I would have to sacrifice a days meal to raise money to pay in school. I am glad with GD transfers I have been able to pay all my debts and clear my grandchildren's fees balances.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I plan to plaster my house. I have a house which is semi-permanent. It was my desire to have a permanent house but due to my low income from casual work, I could not achieve my dreams. Now that I have other urgent matters, I will only plaster it to make it durable and presentable.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am less worried about money because I expect money from the organization every month.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
OI am planning to cement the interior of my house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I am able to get enough money every month and I do not have to engage in casual labor in order to get some money. I also do not have to get worried whenever I am sick because I now have money to pay my bills.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I know my life will change because I will have been able to plaster the interior part of my house, something that has always just been a dream to me.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Yes I do, I have a dream of constructing a new house to replace the old and worn out one that I currently have.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different than it would have been without the transfer since I am able to get all the three meals in a day, something that could not happen without before the transfer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have a good house and vacate the worn out one that I currently have.
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 happiness and peace of mind since I am assured that at the end of each and every month I will get be able to get my transfer.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is losing my son who was the bread winner in this family. I am now struggling to make ends meet.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when making ropes because I am sure of getting money after selling them and the family will have food on the table.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I plan to spend my transfer on buying cement and sand for improving the condition of my house. I will be happy to live in a clean environment that is free from dust.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is that through my work of making and selling ropes I am able to cater for my family needs.