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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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Dama's Profile
Dama's family
Dama
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Tailoring
faceAge:
37
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($467 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?
The goals I had for this second transfer are the ones that I had been having since the census stage when GiveDirectly Field Officers came to talk to us about the program. Apart from the shopping for food stuffs for my family which actually took a huge chunk of the transfer I received, I had a business that I had purposed to revive and replenish. This was because I had been relying on my other business of cutting trees and burning charcoal to sell, which hardly raised enough for me to be able to achieve those goals. I was so grateful to get the financial assistance as this little kiosk business replaced and relieved me from the tedious and tiresome work of cutting trees and burning charcoal to sell.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I am personally applauding GiveDirectly for the excellent services we were accorded from the first interaction we had with Field Officers to the very last. We were given good financial advices as well as very nice words of encouragement, they were very kind and professional. I don't see anything that GiveDirectly doesn't or didn't do well because they promised us and kept it, whoever followed the advice of the Field Officers then has a good testimony because we all have our living standards improved in ways that we couldn't have imagined.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent most of the transfer which was KES 30000 on making a substantial shopping for food and other household essentials because it was important as that would shield my kiosk business and prevent me from taking commodities meant to be sold at the kiosk to be consumed at home. This is, as well, because I saw the need for separation of expectations, because without food in the house then the expectation would be the business to provide and meet the family's immediate needs. Therefore, with the shopping I did, I am no longer stressed because I know that my business will have ample time to flourish and in the long run and the future it'll be able to help me regularly and consistently meet my family's immediate needs. I also spent KES 20000 on reviving my kiosk business because it was on verge of closing down due to there being not so many of the commodities regularly asked for by my customers, which had forced me to turn to charcoal burning and selling to meet my family's immediate needs. It was very important to revive this business because it has been and still is my regular source of income and I believe when it flourishes, it will consistently and regularly enable me to my family's immediate needs as well as educate my children. All thanks to GiveDirectly.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($492 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 recived my first transfer at exactly 9 in the morning. I can vividly recall very well I had attended a meeting in the nearby village together with my neighbors. I was so happy and I remember I couldn't even concentrate on the meeting. I had to excuse myself and go back home to share the news with my spouse and children. I will forever be thankful to GiveDirectly becasue finally, my children managed to go back to school like the rest.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that the transfers have enabled me to send my children to school. Since I am illiterate, my wish has always been to see them waking them every morning and catch their lessons with the rest. However, this was not attainable because I am jobless and my spouse has been the sole breadwinner of the family with meager incomes, paying the school fees on time was not possible. All he could consistently afford was buying foodstuffs for us. Therefore some of my children who are still in primary schools opted to drop out of school because their friends could call name names because of the situation which was embarrassing This kept them out of school which was one of the worst moments in my life as a parent. I am now grateful because they are all at school without hiccups like before. This is a promise of a brighter future for them.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent KES 30000 of my forst transfer on clearing school fees for my two children who are both in secondary schools. They have been studying with difficulties which affected their academic performance. At one time, they were on the verge of dropping out of school to collect school fees which stresses me as their parent. Also, I purchased beddings which include two wooden beds and mattresses at KES 18000. Since I was married I used to sleep on a traditional bed which was never comfortable. I was always complaining of backaches because of the discomforts. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my children that would last us for at least two weeks.
 
Enrolled
access_time 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means proper education for my children and a new spacious house for my family of ten. Two of my children are in a boarding secondary school and the burden of paying all the school fees has been unbearable. I am planning to use 40,000KSH to pay the school fees. In addition to this, I am planning to construct a two bedroom house for my family at a cost of 50,000KES. The house will be spacious enough to shelter my entire family. The current house we live in is in a pathetic condition characterized by a leaking roof and unstable walls. This is risky in as far as our own security is concerned. Getting the new house will serve my family well and at the same time assure us of safety.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Evening is the happiest part of my day. Unlike in the morning and afternoon when I engage in aloe vera tapping, an occupation that is energy draining I use the evening hours to take some rest and this makes me happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is lack of money to meet my family's basic needs such as education for my children. The jobs I rely own include charcoal burning and aloe vera tapping. However, almost all the forests are now exhausted and we no longer have enough trees to burn charcoal. My husband relies on tailoring, a business that was really affected by the harsh economic conditions brought about by Covid 19 pandemic.