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 > Caren's Profile
Caren's family
Caren
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Casual labor
faceAge:
29
workCampaign
Kenya Large Transfer
There will be no further updates from this completed recipient.
2nd Payment
Transfer Amount
53150 KES ($462 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?
After achieving most of the plans that I had before receiving the transfers, I now have a plan of constructing a house on the land I bought with my second transfer. Givedirectly has brought major changes in my household and I am so grateful.
In your opinion, what does GiveDirectly do well, and what does it not do well?
In my opinion, Givedirectly did well by improving our poor living standards. It made me realize my potential and created positive energy. The kind officers also made all the enrollment easy by giving us adequate explanations about the project. I do not have any negative views.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
With KES 35,000 of my second transfer, I spent on buying land. I am a single mother and I had been living with my parents on our small piece of land. When I received my transfer, I acquired two points acres of land. I am working currently towards saving so that I can build my house. With KES 9000, I used to buy sheep. The sheep will multiply easily and they reproduce twice a year hence can sell some towards saving for building the house that I need most. With the remaining part of the transfer, I used it in buying clothes for my household members.
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
55000 KES ($504 USD)
access_time over 2 years ago
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Describe the moment when you received your money. How did you feel?
Happiness was all over the village at the moment I received the transfer. I was already out to my usual workplace where I had been doing my casual work when I confirmed the receipt of the transfer on my phone. I had to reconfirm the account balance as I initially thought it was just the usual prank messages I had been receiving. To my happiness, I had received as was promised. I thanked God and tried my best to work through that day on the farm that even though it was hard holding back the celebrations until I was done, I had to keep the focus on the piece that I was yet to complete.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
It has been quite stressful getting out every morning, leaving my farms with no progress as I work in other people's farms just to be paid a little amount just enough to keep me going every day. Saving had never been any easier as bills needed to be paid as well as providing daily bread to my household. Investing the first transfer in livestock has been the biggest difference so far in my daily life as I have something to smile about currently and knowing that I have an easier future both for my children and me.
What did you spend your most recent transfer(s) on?
As a single mother of two, bringing up my children has never been that easier as I have survived on casual labor to raise school fees and ensuring a healthy upbringing. Currently, the elder one is in grade seven while the other one is in grade four. This to me is a sign that they are soon graduating from primary school, and their school fees will be a bit higher. On receiving the first transfer, I spent a huge portion on obtaining two bullocks one at $135, and the other at $170. I already had one and adding it puts me in a better position to comfortably pay school fees in the future when I sell. With the remaining amount, I saw it good to also add two other sheep to the flock at $87. I spent the last coin from my account on adding foodstuff to our stores as our farms are not doing that well at the moment.
 
Enrolled
access_time almost 3 years ago
 
What does receiving this money mean to you?
Self-family independence is what receiving this money means to me. I currently live in my parent's land which they gave me a go-ahead to build my own house 2 years ago after I separated from my spouse. I have always been yearning to buy my land where I will be free to cultivate food for my two children hence I will be able to realize this dream using $600 of my transfer. I will then use $300 to buy a dairy cow whose earnings from selling milk will supplement my daily wages from casual jobs such as working in other people's farms
What is the happiest part of your day?
Being the sole breadwinner of my family, waking up each day feeling energetic to go to work is my daily motivation, which makes morning the happiest part of my day.
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
I separated from my spouse In the year 2015 and came back home with my two children. My parents gave me a space in their land to build my own house to live in but since I had been married off initially, I was not given land for cultivation. To provide food for my family, I usually engage in tedious casual labor on people's farms which earns me $3 daily. My health has lately deteriorated, backaches and chest pains is what I experience daily and yet there is no other reliable source of income that I can venture in. This is the biggest hardship I face