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
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Risper's Profile
Risper's family
Risper
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
30
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($454 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?
Even though I had been working on my sewing business which is currently working well, I also have a new goal to establish another new one. I had been saving with the informal savings group and was hopeful that with time, the savings will have grown enough to purchase a maize milling machine. This will be a new venture deemed to boost my daily income and comfortable provision for my family of five.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
After the receipt of the transfer from GiveDirectly, a lot changed not only in my household but also in other households within the village. Everyone was glad to spend the money on all they would wish without any restriction. This was a great opportunity for us to change our daily lives and standards of living. I have no complaints at all but am grateful for all the support I received.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
After clearing all the debts I had with the first transfer, I spent KES 22000 of the second transfer on buying a heifer. Buying milk from the neighborhood has been very expensive and the investment in the heifers both on the first and the second transfer has renewed my hope of producing enough milk for my household and a surplus to sell in the future. In addition, I also spent KES 1000 to obtain a new sewing machine to replace an old one that I had been using for the past five years. I am glad that the new one has made my work easier, and it wasted no more time or money on the repairs that I had previously gotten used to. I can make appreciable savings from my daily income and be able to provide for my family at the same time. I also paid KES 3500 tuition fees for my child in primary school and used the remaining amount on buying foodstuff and other household goods. Within a short time, GiveDirectly has transformed my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($481 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
That day, I was outside my hotel selling vegetables. That's when I heard a message alert on my phone, on checking my phone I confirmed to have received the eagerly awaited GiveDirectly transfers. I was overwhelmed with joy because I knew I would pay my creditor who had been on my case and was present with me at the moment. For sure I paid him his dues via mobile money that very moment and he was very excited.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life is happiness because I have repaid the loan of which the creditor was always on my neck. This has brought a sense of relief and peace while doing my hotel work. Additionally, through the transfers, I got the capital to run my hotel business. This has doubled my profits so far and can not be happier. Lastly, in my house, there is untold peace because we have adequate food and our hotel business is running smoothly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receipt of my second transfer, my priority was a heifer. I, therefore, spent KES 20,000 on a heifer since it will soon reproduce and be a source of milk and income for my family. Secondly, I spent KES 10,000 on repayment of a loan that had accumulated for three months due to the impact of Covid 19 on my hotel business. And my creditor was always on my case and I was stressed but thanks to GiveDirectly because they came in to help on time. Thirdly, I started my hotel business about two years ago and the income of KES 200 a day was used for household consumption. But since I received GiveDirectly transfers my business is booming because I used KES 3000 in addition to stock. And in a day I make profits of KES 380 to 400 per day profit. Initially, I used to buy hotel stock on credit and I was very careful with this because I was accountable each day. Furthermore, I spent KES 1,500 on a 210 liters water container because initially, I had only a 50 liters water container. I also bought a cupboard at KES 7,500 to help in the storage of utensils as I didn't have one. Lastly, KES 3,000 was used on nine sofa set cushions. I also spent KES 3,500 on a bag of maize and other household items. This will sustain my family for a longer time hence reducing household expenditures.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Receiving this money means a great impact in my family. I have been a middle man in buying and selling of second hand clothes for almost three years now.This has been my source of income to feed my family and pay for their school fees.I had an ambition of starting my own business of buying and selling goats to the butcher men. This is going to be realised by the transfers I will get from Givedirectly. I am happy today that my ambitions will come to reality. Therefore the plan is to use KES80,000 in starting with the stock. The remaining amount will cater for food for my family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
For the past three months we manage to build a new house made of iron sheets. I used to stay in a grass thatched house which at some point it was raining inside. This was a great achievement to us in the family. Everyone was happy about it.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The main challenge is food insecurity, we have been living in a poverty stricken area. My income has been going for a loan which I borrowed two years ago. This was the amount which enabled me to buy my land. I am happy though I wish that I could have enough food to feed my family.