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 > Caroline's Profile
Caroline's family
Caroline
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
42
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($437 USD)
access_time over 1 year ago
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How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
In the next one year, I hope to be able to build a new house. I currently stay in a very small house that does not give us the much needed comfort and space as a family. I plan to save up enough money through my business and use the money to build a new house. I am also taking part in a merry go round contribution scheme that will help me achieve this.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion GiveDirectly does very well by selecting arid areas and areas that have very low living standards to receive the money. Giving cash as a form of aid is another game changer that GiveDirectly came with. The fact that people were given the freedom to choose how to spend the money gave everyone a chance to choose how best they were going to spend the money.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
When I received the second transfer, I used $250 to buy a heifer. I used another $100 to pay back debts owed to me by my lenders and the remaining amount was used to buy food, clothes and other essentials for my family. We made a decision to buy a dairy cow since it will save us a great deal once it calves and the milk produced shall also be sold to meet other needs of our family in future. My husband and I rely entirely on subsistence farming to raise income that supports our family. The amount of money that we make from this subsistence farming is hardly enough to meet our needs as a family hence the thought of buying the dairy cow. I am a mother of three children with two of them still in school and I hope to get enough money from the livestock that I bought and be able to pay their school fees in time to allow them pursue their education without interruption. I am so grateful for the support that I received from GiveDirectly and very hopeful that my life shall hencefort change because of this.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($474 USD)
access_time almost 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
The moment I received my transfer, it was early in the morning when my family and I were enjoying breakfast. Suddenly I had my phone ringing, On checking, I realised that I had received money from GiveDirectly. This was the happiest day in my life, I was overwhelmed with joy and happiness. I knew that this would change our lives for the better and finally, we embarked on planning.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
The biggest difference in my life today is that I was able to purchase a dairy cow with the unconditional transfer. I was unable to realise the goal due to financial constraints, I am now able to save up money that I used to spend on milk daily. I am contented that I was able to achieve my dream in a short period. I am so thankful for the support that uplifted our lives amazingly.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
Upon receiving my transfer, I thought of purchasing a dairy cow. This is because I had a cow before but unfortunately I was forced to sell it due to school fees responsibilities. Therefore, I used KES 35,000 on purchasing a cow to cut the cost of buying milk daily. In addition to that, I bought foodstuffs and paid back the debt with the remaining amount of the transfer. I was unable to achieve the above due to unreliable sources of income since I only depend on farming in providing for my three children. I am grateful for the support that changed my living standards in a short time.
 
Enrolled
access_time 2 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
We do casual jobs to meet our family's needs of food, clothes, and school fees for my son. We earn KES 200 more so on non-market days otherwise it can be less. Due to unreliable sources of income, I sold all my cows to raise my son's school fees. Receiving this money means reclaiming our assets and investing in dairy farming. We are planning to purchase a dairy cow with KES 35,000. This will bring joy and happiness to my family since I will no longer use KES 60 daily to purchase milk for consumption at the same time I can sell milk in surplus to get money.
What is the happiest part of your day?
Early this year, due to favorable weather conditions I harvested three bags of maize from my one acre farm.This has brought happiness to my family since usually have enough food to eat and a balanced diet
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The challenge we are facing currently is financial constraints. The KES 200 I earn from casual jobs are only enough to buy food for my family and none is left to pay for school fees. I borrow loans so that I can pay for my son's education which repaying is difficult.