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 > Norah's Profile
Norah's family
Norah
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($462 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to join a driving school and train. It has always been my wish to join one but I was not able to because my school certificate was still being held at school due to failure to clear the school fees balances. I am glad that I was able to clear the balance and I now have the certificate with me. I have high hopes that I will be able to get employed after I am done with my training. I do not have money for paying for the training but I was able to talk with the management and they told me that I can pay little by little.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
GiveDirectly is very concerned with the welfare of the people that they help. In case of a household conflict, like what happened in my case, they ensure that they have resolved it fairly. They thus want everyone to benefit from the program and the transfers. I hence do not see anything wrong with how they conduct their work.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 29000 of the recent transfer on building another house. I bought 22 iron sheets and some trees. Building a house was my topmost priority upon receiving the transfer because I had only one grass-thatched house. I was the only one in my neighborhood who still had a grass-thatched house and thus it was my wish to build another one that is roofed with iron sheets. Getting grass for roofing had also become quite a challenge since it is no longer easily available and hence one has to buy them. I am glad that I managed to achieve this thanks to GiveDirectly because I didn't have the money. I now have the main house where I can welcome guests. I have left the other one to be the kitchen. Other than that, I also spent KES 10000 on clearing the school fees balances that I was still owing to the school where I use to study. They were still holding my academic certificate because of the balance and I am thus glad that they gave me it. I plan to use the certificate on my application to join a driving school. I also spent KES 7000 on buying some clothes for myself and I also bought some chairs at a total cost of KES 2060. I also used KES 1500 on paying off a debt that I was owing someone. With the remaining transfer amount, I used it in buying a bag of maize for consumption. I am so much grateful for their support.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means better housing for me. Currently, I live in a small grass-thatched house, which acts as the bedroom, kitchen, and living room. When visitors come visiting, I always ask my neighbors to accommodate them since I live in a small hut. My plan is to build a 3 bedroom house roofed with ironsheets. The estimated cost is KES 60,000. I will also buy a Dairy cow Worth KES 30,000 since I do not have one and I buy milk daily which is not cost effective. The remaining amount will go for foodstuffs.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For the last 6 moths, I have been happy because the rainfall pattern has changed. My location has received rains more than 15 times which is not normal in the area. Last year we received Rains 4 times in 6 months meaning we could not have planted anything and no foodstuffs for dairy animals.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge am facing currently is School fees problem. I have two children in school and I have not paid last term fees, I owe the school around KES 10,000 and my children ware asked not to report to school till I clear fee balance. I only depend on casual jobs paying KES 250 per day. I have not managed to save much since it goes to foodstuffs each day.