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 > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
liberia
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
64
workCampaign
Liberia Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD ($280 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?
I am old, my husband is dead. There have been no support from anywhere to educate my son. The house my family and I are staying in is not in good condition. The coming of GiveDirectly have brought joy into my heart. Due to the coming of GiveDirectly, I was able to buy cement to plaster my house and lay the floor to have a betterplace to stay in the future with my family. The remaining portion of it, I used it to send my son to school because I need him be educated for a brighter future.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
I all these things that I am having today I could not afford to have them before. Through the help of Givedirectly unconditional cash transfer, I was able to send my son to school until he graduated from high school. The previous house that I am living in, I was unable to renovate it. Through the transfer from Givedirectly, I was able to buy building materials to do the renovation. Meanwhile, send my son to school and make him a better person in society. So in my opinion about what is not done well by GiveDirectly, I have not seen anything of such.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am old, my old age can not permit me to do certain works. There have been no support from anywhere to educate my son since the death of my husband. The house my family and I are staying in is in a deplorable condition. The coming of GiveDirectly have brought joy into my heart. Due to the coming of GiveDirectly, I was able to buy cement to plaster my house and lay the floor to have a betterplace to stay in the future with my family. The remaining portion of the transfer, I used it to send my son back to school because I need him be educated for a brighter future.
 
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
42500 LRD
access_time almost 3 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
I wanted to complete my house before GiveDirectly came into my village but I did not have the means to because of my financial status. My son is going to be graduating from high school also. I have been thinking about where I was going to get money from to make him feel happy and complete my house, but luckily for me, this transfer from Givedirectly came in time. When my first transfer came, I used portion of it to buy three bags of cement to change the dusty ground to a cement floor and plaster the inside walls. I have decided to use portion of my second transfer to celebrate my son graduation so I will not do more development on my house. I am waiting for third transfer to come, so I can complete my house project. I just want to say thank you to GiveDirectly for the future it has given me.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
The money that we are receiving have not been earned by our mothers that born us until they died. I am very happy for this money or opportunity because this money from Givedirectly has made me to achieve my dreams by making me to see the completion of my house and making my son happy. With all these good things that have been done by GiveDirectly and they are still doing, I have not seen anything that is not done well by GiveDirectly. I am grateful to GiveDirectly for putting a smile on my face.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I have not taken my second transfer out of my account yet. My son graduation ceremony is on hands soon and it has been one of my major plans because he has suffer to complete his secondary school because I had no money to make him feel happy as a mother. I will use portion of my transfer on my son graduation celebration so I am not planning to do much work on my house. I am waiting to receive my third transfer to do total completion on my house for a better future of me and my family.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
40375 LRD
access_time almost 3 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my transfer was one of the best moments of my life. I was astonished. I have always been wishing to build a house. I am an old woman who has been struggling. Things have been hard on me. I couldn't afford to even build a bigger house so I built a temporary one. I'm a single woman. My daughter gives me food everyday. If she doesn't have food then its difficult for me to eat for that day. I'm thankful for this amazing opportunity. My life will never be the same again.
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 can now afford to eat on time. Being a poor and old lady is not an easy thing for me. I have suffered. I am so excited that this program came to my town. I happy that I got enrolled. One of the differences in my life is that I am more relaxed. I am not stressed anymore. After receiving all the the transfers my live will change for the best.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I was overwhelmed when I received my transfer.I haven't withdrawn the money but when I do,I want to buy cement to plaster my house. I will also use some of my money to buy a bag of rice and some other food items. I am a poor woman, I couldn't afford my son needs. His aunty have been helping me to take care of him. She has been paying his tuition and catering to his needs. I also plan to use some of my money to give to her for his upkeep. Im so thankful to God for this program our lives will improve.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
My plan for the cash transfer is to plaster my house with cement. My house is a mud house, and also plaster my room floor,now I am sick and cant plaster the house with mud.I will also use part of the money to buy zinc and build my small kitchen for cooking. I want to help my son and pay his school fees because school has open and he is not going to because there is no money.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My greatest joy today is seeing Givedirectly . God is so wonderful, I heard about GD in other communities where they have worked, I have really been praying to be part of the program this program. I believe that, GD present in my town today,will bring change in my life. With the cash transfer if I am successful, I will be able to go to hospital, build my house, pay my son school fees , eat good food and be happy.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
My major challenge now is lack of money. I am sick and want to visit the hospital, but I dont have money, so I keep draining down from the sickness. My daughter is also not well, and due to undergo surgery, but I dont have money. I also new money to pay my son school fees and for feeding every day, but due to lack of money, things have become so difficult for me, I dont have husband to help me.