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 > Monica's Profile
Monica's family
Monica
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
22
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Monica's next check-in.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
When my husband went to be with the Lord, he had plans of building a home but he had not started. In the coming months, I plan to purchase building materials to see that his dream comes to pass and that our children are getting the best even in his absence. His legacy will continue even in his death.
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 pay school fees for my six children attending school. I am a widow and my husband passed away leaving me with no form of investment to fall back to. I have been struggling to ensure that my children receive the best. I used to do casual jobs, small businesses like selling donuts among others to ensure that I raised enough money for their upkeep and fees but it was very tiresome and hard being a single mum. GD through unconditional transfers has eased my burden and I am very grateful.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I am certain that none of my children will be sitting home due to the lack of school fees. I will keep working hard to ensure they receive their best. I am also certain that plans toward building a home for my family will still be underway.
 
14th 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 currently different from how it was four months ago in that, I am always at peace. Nowadays I get less worried about life issues. Since I am able to take care of the most basic needs such as food and clothing makes me relax and feel relieved. I am hoping to start a business soon so that I don't get stranded after giving Directly have finished their projects in this village
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My additional goals for my life in the next four months is to renovate the roof of my kitchen. The kitchen normally doubles up as a guest room and a store for my grains. Since the old roof is grass thatched and leaks whenever it rains, my grains are normally rained on which makes them rot and smell. I don't want to incur these losses again after working very hard. Therefore I am planning to save my monthly transfers for the next four months and ensure I buy enough iron sheets to replace the grass thatched roof.
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 easily providing for my family. Since I started receiving these transfers, my family has never slept hungry. I am able to provide a balanced diet in every meal. I was also able to buy clothes for my children and replaced the torn old clothes I bought several years ago.
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 have renovated my kitchen roof. My kids will be able to sleep peacefully because they won't have to wake up every night to shift their bedding. My grains will also last longer hence no losses will be experienced moving forward
 
12th 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?
My life is different in that, four months ago I used to do odd jobs and earned a little money which was never enough for my household use. But ever since I started receiving my transfer, I opened a business which has earned me profits. With the profits, I have able to sustain my family.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am currently planning to buy building materials to build my family a better house. The one we stay in was build by late husband and we have outgrown it.
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 start a business that is currently my major source of income. This has been made possible thanks to GD's transfer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I don't expect much change but I am hopeful I will have commenced the construction of a permanent house where my children can stay in and enjoy the space.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I am very glad about GD transfers we are able to sleep well. We used to have old bedding which caused us uncomfortable sleep. The mattresses were old and looked like mats. With GD transfers, I have been able to buy new bedding which has given me peace in my heart. I used to feel very bad when my children would complain that they cannot sleep because of the condition of their bedding. Right now, anytime we going to sleep, I do not have any worries. I do not hear any complaints from my children.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to buy building materials. I have always wanted to have my own home but due to financial inability, I have not been to realize this dream. I would want to save part of the transfers to buy building materials such as iron sheets, nails and timber to help me build a house in my own home.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my life since I started receiving these transfers is that I have been able to pay school fees for my children without many struggles. Before the transfers, I used to struggle to pay their school fees since I did not have a stable source of income. I used to depend on casual work of working on other people's farm and during the dry seasons, I would hardly get food to feed my family. My children would be sent home regularly because I was not able to pay fees in time. With Gd transfers, I have been able to pay their school bit by bit and cleared the major part of their balance. I am glad they are not always sent home.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I would want to buy a cow. I would want to use the cow to pay my dowry. Since my husband died before paying my dowry and according to our custom, it has to be paid. I would want to buy the cows and give one of my in-laws to visit my home and fulfil this right.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
4560 KES ($44 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The money from the organization has enabled me to pay school fees for my kids with much ease in the recent past. I used to work to engage in a lot of casual labor in the village for me to earn some little cash that went into paying the fees. My kids are no longer sent home for lack of school fees like it used to happen before. I am happy that right now my kids have the opportunity to spend more time in class and concentrate on their studies.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I expect my life to change in the near future because my plan is to buy iron sheets that I will use to build my own house away from my father in-laws compound where I currently live in and the main reason for doing that will be to stay away from the politics of relatives where I currently stay.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
Today my kids have enough balanced diet to eat, thanks to Give directly. Ever since my husband passed on last year, life has been quite a nightmare for us and getting money to buy food for the family has never been easy.
Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
I want to start a small scale business of buying fish from the fishermen and re-selling them to the local buyers within the village. I know this business will generate income for me so that i will not have to rely on cash transfers from GD in the future.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced in my life is an unreliable source of income which has made me struggle to meet my family's basic needs. Being a widow and a mother of six children has not been easy and sometimes it breaks my heart seeing my little children going without a meal for a day.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening when my children are back from school and I have enough food for my family's supper. Having enough food means that my children will be satisfied and happy and this makes me happy too.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers on buying building materials such as iron-sheets, timber, and nails and build a house on my own compound from my in-law's compound. I will then spend the rest of the money on starting a fish business to earn a living.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am proudest of is having started a fish business a year ago after the death of my husband which has enabled me to provide for my family's basic needs without so much struggle.