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 > Kadzo's Profile
Kadzo's family
Kadzo
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
60
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($488 USD)
access_time almost 3 years ago
check
 
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has really improved since I received the money from Give Directly. Had I not received the transfer I would still be staying in a grass thatched leaking house. I will forever be grateful to Give Directly for the support. I never had the dream of ever owning such a house. Whatever I earn can barely meet the daily household needs, constructing a better house was no where within my budget.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Give Directly does well by giving money to individual and let them decide on how to spend it. This has enabled people to achieve a lot. I was able to meet most of my needs that I could not purchase without the Give Directly transfers. On the other hand, I have not seen any areas where Give Directly needs to improve on.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I bought proper bedding with part of the recent transfer. Previously I had a broken bed with torn mattress which was not only comfortable but not healthy too to sleep on. I am glad I currently can afford to sleep comfortably with no body pain whenever I wake up. A bigger portion of the money I spent on both cows and goats for rearing. I believe that in the future after they have given birth I will have additional livestock. They are investment since I am planning to sell part of them in order to raise school fee for my children in the future.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($501 USD)
access_time 3 years ago
attach_money
 
Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was from taking breakfast with my family at around 8 in the morning then I heard my phone ringing loudly. I asked my helper who is my son to check who might have se4nt the message at such an hour. Upon checking, he realized that it was the long-awaited Mpesa message from GiveDirectly. They had finally debited the first transfer as promised. I felt so happy and decided to plan on how I would utilize the cash.
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 am now a proud owner of goats and this is the best gift that I have received in my life. I settled on rearing goats because they reproduce twice a year and require less supervision to rear compared to other domestic animals. To add to that, their food is also easily available since they can live in any type of climate. This makes me believe that very soon they will multiply and increase in number. My plan is to sell some to the local markets and generate an income. This will help me settle my bills on time such as paying school fees for my children. And according to me, these are the well-thoughtful assets that will help me in the near future.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I spent part of my first transfer on buying some pieces of iron sheets, several building poles, threads, nails, and timber. I bought all these materials with an intention of constructing a new house because the previous one was in critical condition and very small. I then boyght some livestock such as three goats that will serve as the living assets that I will lean on incase of any financial crisis. With the remaining amount of money, I bought enough foodstuffs for my family and some other household items.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Imagine living in traditional hut that is almost open in the roof with damaged walls! This has been my life for the past two years since I couldn't afford to repair my roof. This resulted to the walls being eroded since they are made of mud and they are no longer shielded from rainfall. I am so insecure in this house because I feel it might collapse while I am sleeping. Receiving this money therefore means constructing a good house to save myself the agony of worrying about my safety every time.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the morning when I wake up. I always thank God for giving me another chance to see a new day and I do not take it for granted.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
Financial constraint is my biggest hardship. This is because I do not have a stable source of income besides subsistence farming. I burn charcoal for financial upkeep, a job that earns me around 1000 shillings a month. This situation has made my life difficult as I cannot afford clothing, good food and proper shelter.