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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Enrollment
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Transfers
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Completed
Newsfeed > Nancy's Profile
Nancy's family
Nancy
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
48
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($467 USD)
access_time 2 years ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
As we speak, I am looking for capital to start a cereals business. This will help a lot in school fees payment and household expenditure as well.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, GiveDirectly does everything well. This is because through the transfers I have built a modern Iron roofed house and paid school fees on time.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
I am a casual worker at Olerai farm a Maasai farm rented the white settlers for agribusiness farming. From this farm, I normally get KES 300 a day. I am also an avid rope weaver for the past 30 years and in a week I get up to KES 100 because a rope goes for KES 10. Due to these meager earnings, paying school fees and feeding my family has haven a struggle. Recently, when GiveDirectly recently came I felt a sense of relief. This is because my kids have been in and out of school for up to two weeks for lack of school fees. I, therefore, used KES 15,000 on school fees payment. In my house also, I had old and worn-out furniture. So when I received the second transfer; I also bought three sofa set seaters for KES 9000, KES2000 on a table, and KES 5000 on a bed. From this, I can attest that my house is more comfortable and I sleep well nowadays. In addition, I also bought two goats at KES 6000. This is because they grow fast and will be a good source of income in the future. The remaining KES 6000; KES3000 was used on a bag of maize and KES 3000 was used on cooking utensils and clothing.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($488 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
I was alone at home when I received a message notification that I could not check it up immediately. A family friend who is also a neighbor came by and on asking me whether I had received the transfer, I was a little bit shocked since I had not seen anything yet I had to pick my phone and was glad to confirm that I had received it. I was very excited when I saw the message content and thanked God so much and GiveDirectly for the generous support and the kept promise. I could not withdraw the same day but after two days when all plans we well set, I had to collect all the money from the nearest shopping center.
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 of seeing all my four children settled in school and learning without any disturbance after paying all their term school fees. This had been the biggest challenge to us but GiveDirectly made it easier when we received the transfer since we cleared them all to allow us ample time to work on other projects within our planned schedule.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With my family of eight, we were so excited to receive the transfer from GiveDirectly that we could not wait to see the initiation of the few projects that we had planned. Out of the six children, four are currently in school, and settling their school fees became a priority for us since we had been struggling quite a lot to meet the school deadlines. I paid a total of KES 27000 to their schools and am happy that they have been enjoying ample time with other children in school. I also managed to spend KES 20000 on purchasing iron sheets and constructing a new house that I am now living in after demolishing the small hut that we had been using as a main house. We also had an agreement to spend KES2000 on foodstuff and settled a debt of KES 4000 that we had in the immediate shop that had been giving us household goods on credit.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
I have been wanting to construct a house for my family. The kitchen I have now is leaking and during rainy seasons, it gets flooded making it very uncomfortable to live in. The house will serve as the living room and bedroom for me and my daughter whom we currently share a bedroom. Receiving this money means better housing for my family. This will cost me approximately KES 30000. For the rest of the amount, I will pay off school fees for my two children in secondary school.
What is the happiest part of your day?
My day starts at 5. am. I prepare breakfast for my children and myself. I then track for two hours to the farm I work for. I start working for 8 hours and trackback on foot and arrive home at 8. am. Going to work on foot, ten kilometers away wears me off. By the time I'm back home, I'm very worn out I hardly rest. The evening is the happiest part of my day. As much as I'm tired, I can rest happy knowing that is a work day I will earn something to cater to my needs.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship is a lack of finances. I live in a very dry area with low rainfall. We do not harvest much farm produce when we farm. Being a casual laborer, I earn KES 5000 gross, which goes to buying food and paying school fees. It is living hand to mouth, every day presenting itself with new challenges and needs. Tracking ten kilometers away is very tiresome but I do not have a choice. This means I never get a chance to do other families developments including improving my housing. Being the breadwinner is twice harder since my husband is always away.