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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Newsfeed > Ruth's Profile
Ruth's family
Ruth
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
52
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Ruth's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is different in the last four months in that I was able to get quality treatment because of the transfers. I was sick for two months and needed serious medical attention. Being a widow who only depends on farming as the main source of income, I could not get the kind of treatment I got because of the transfers. I would have to beg for help which might not have been very productive as the transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I have a new goal of buying household items which I do not have. I would want to really improve the condition of my house with this opportunity provided by GD. After plastering the house, I would also want to have new items in the house.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Right now I mop my floor just like my neighbours. This is a dream come true for me. I have always desired to plaster my house but due to low income from farming, I was not able to. Smearing on a monthly basis was really tiresome and costly and its the main reason why I chose to plaster the house. I started saving part of my monthly transfers which I used in buying building materials such as cement, sand and ballast. I used the materials in plastering the floor of my house. Thanks to GD for the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I will be having new items in the house such as seats and utensils. The ones I have now, I have been using for the last three years and they are old. My next goal is to buy new ones and I know I will be able to manage them through the transfers.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time almost 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, my life has a difference in that I now own a kitchen. Therefore I am able to cook at any time that I intend to unlike before cooking in my main house was hazardous to my family's health which forced me to cook early before the sunsets.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal for the next four months is to aim higher and get to my goal of replacing my grassed thatched roof into an iron sheet one. This means I intend to be disciplined with the finances I get from GiveDirectly through buying the required building materials on a monthly basis.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Previously, I have been living in a one-room house which served as a kitchen, living, and bedroom to my family. Today, I have a different story to tell because the biggest difference in my daily life for the last four months is that I have successfully built a kitchen which I have ever dreamt of. This has been enhanced by buying building materials which included iron sheets, nails, timber and paid laborers to build it using the transfers that were sent. Thanks to GiveDirectly because the kitchen serves as a bedroom for my children at night and a cooking place as well.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the next six months in that I shall have fixed an iron sheet roof and replace the grassed that one by buying building materials every month with the sent transfer. This is because at the moment the leaky grass thatched roof of my house is in a deplorable condition which has made it risky for our habitation.
 
11th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, my life is different than it was for months ago in that I am always healthy because I can afford to feed well. I am also relieved from financial stress because I am often certain about receiving my transfers which have greatly helped me in terms of acquiring our household's food. In addition, my involvement in casual jobs has greatly gone down. As a result, I have been able to focus on my farming activities from which I hope to obtain a bumper harvest.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, my new goal is to save and spend my transfers to renovate my house. I am planning to use part of the transfers I have been saving to buy bags of cement which I will use to plaster the floor of my house. This will save me from the dust which always covers my house whenever I sweep. This has been exposing us to respiratory diseases and constant cold flu. Moreover, I shall no longer have to smear my house with cow dung thus I shall be having a good time to attend to my daily chores.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In the last four months preceding the current transfer, the biggest difference in my life is that I have been able to obtain food for my household. In the past, life was hard and we could occasionally forgo some meals due to lack of money. Nowadays, I do not need to fully rely on unpredictable casual jobs in order to earn a living. The transfers have made my life better than it was before. I am, therefore, very grateful for GiveDirectly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have cemented the floor of my house and I will no longer be subjected to dust-related health risks such as infection by jiggers. My house will be more decent and this will make me feel comfortable and at peace to have visitors around. I had been afraid even to request my relatives to visit me since I feared that some of them could be affected by dust which emanates from the floor of my house especially when I take a long time before I smear it with cow-dung.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
attach_money
 
How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
My life is currently different from the way it was four months ago in that I'm now independent thus I have been able to meet my family's needs without challenges.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
For the next four months of my life, I expect to have saved enough money for plastering my floor so that it can look more docent.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I have been able to meet my family's basic needs including a balanced diet with a lot of ease.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have plastered the floor so that I can also feel proud having a decent floor as other fellow women.
 
3rd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time almost 6 years ago
attach_money
 
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I have a new goal of saving some money monthly for some months and use it to plaster my house which is so dusty. I had this in mind but since I din't have a reliable income I couldn't afford but now I'm sure I can achieve it.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different the way it would have been if I did not receive the money in that I can now have a timeline of achieving my goals because I'm sure of getting money monthly.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect to have saved a good amount of money in the next six months to be used to plaster my house next year.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my daily life since I started receiving the money from GiveDirectly is that I no longer rely on my spouse for everything, I now feel more independent.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My biggest hardship has been raising school fees for my children, the return i get from my business is little and can not pay fees and at the same time buy enough food for the family.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My happiest part of the day is in the morning when i wake up seeing anew day is joy to me,i am able to plan the days activities well.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to extend my house and cement the floor for it to look attractive.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
My proudest achievement is my paraffin business i started ten years ago, i have been able to save on amonthly basis to apoint that i now have one set of sofa from it.