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 > Joyce's Profile
Joyce's family
Joyce
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
36
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($466 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My new goal is to start a retail business that I can focus on it during evening hours hence getting an additional income. I am a small-scale farmer and all I get from farming cannot sustain all my household needs.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, many households in my village are so grateful for the support they received from Givedirectly. All the households ensured that they have spent the transfers rightfully and they changed their lives positively. I do not see anything that Givedirectly did not do well.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With the second transfer, we prioritized improving our house by building a decent modern timber-made house. The mud house that we had was difficult to maintain since we used to buy clay soil for smearing at Kshs.500 which made it difficult to maintain. We are grateful that the house is fully complete and we already moved in.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($499 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I felt great the moment I received my first transfer. I was home alone when I received a notification message on my phone as my children were out to their respective schools. I had to check it immediately and was happy that the promised amount was already in my account. I could not control my joy but had to first thank God for answering our prayers. I had to inform other members of my family who were already out to their casual work who were equally happy and thanked God for the great support we were getting From GiveDirectly.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is the joy I have after buying a cow. I had been buying milk for a long time, I am glad that I will finally be producing from my own livestock enough for my household and also be able to sell the surplus to cover other household bills.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Living alone with my three children has been a great challenge. on receiving the first transfer, I spent KES35000 on buying a cow that is almost calving down. I had been buying milk for a long time now that had been so expensive. the move to obtain a cow will reduce the cost of living as I will not be buying milk anymore. I also ensured that I obtained clothing for my children at KES 6000. With the remaining amount, I decided to purchase foodstuff worth KES 3000 and other household goods.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
It would mean financial freedom for me. From 2014 until 2019 i owned a small business,unfortunately i closed down for lack of enough re-current capital to sustain the business. I do manual jobs that earn me little money that is only enough to buy food for my children. I plan on re-opening the business of buying and re-selling maize because there is demand for foodstuff in this area. I will start with 20 bags of maize at ksh 60,000 and resell it at a cost of 90,000. This will enable me to earn an average of ksh 15000 per month which is enough to cater for our basic needs(food,clothing and education ) for my children. The other monies i will use to buy one dairy cow of ksh 30,000 and build a cow-shed with the other monies.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning.When i have somewhere to go and fend food for my children. I wake up to go to other people farms to do casual jobs and I am always thankful to God when i have a job to do during the day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
About two years ago i closed down my business due to lack of enough capital to run it.Since then, i have been doing casual jobs which earn me only Ksh 250 per day when i get the job. Sometimes i stay for two days without earning a shilling and this has been difficult on me because i live alone with my three children and they depend on me wholly.