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 > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Subsistence farming
faceAge:
70
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mary's next check-in.
 
19th 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 different from how it would have been four months ago in that I am achieving one of my major goals. This has been my biggest worry because I do not have anyone who I can depend on to help me out. I had to utilise the little I get on a daily basis until I started receiving these transfers. I am glad soon I will achieve the goal because of GD transfers.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months, I wish to plaster the inside wall and the floor of my house. As I had started the plastering with part of my monthly transfers, I want to ensure I complete the work when I am still getting support from GD.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
In my old age, I have always desired to plaster my house because I do not have the energy to smear on a monthly basis. I had to hire someone to do the smear the house for me since I could not do it myself. Since I do not have the resources to pay, I have been in debt. I have always looked forward to getting money to plaster the house but it has not always been possible. With GD transfers, I was able to save and use the money to buy cement and sand. I have plastered the outside wall and I know I will complete the whole house soon.
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 plastered my whole house. I planning to save my transfers so that I can achieve the target amount and plaster the house once and for all.
 
16th 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 currently different from how it was four months ago because i no longer repair the wall of my house every now and then as I used to do before. I am also eating well without missing a meal in a day as I used to.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I may not have any new goal but would wish to go on with my plastering project that I began some time back. The remaining parts, the floor included still need a better chunk of my monthly transfers
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life is that l managed to buy plastering materials and plastered my house. I was staying in a house which was prone to damages whenever it rained. It was very tiring and costly repairing it every now and then. In as much as I am pending plastering of the inner part of the house, I am now privileged that the outer part which was prone to damages is fully sorted and I don't need to worry of rains anymore.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, l expect to have completed plastering my house and stay in a nice plastered house which will not require any further repair.
 
11th 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 have finished plastering my house. I no longer have the worries and shame I used to go through whenever I saw my house. The muds on the walls were falling off and as results of that, there were a lot of cracks on the walls which were weakening my house. I feared someday the house could fall on me yet I did not have enough money or any other source of income to help me in buying building materials to use in putting up another house. I am glad with Gd transfers, I was able to buy building materials such as iron sheets, timber and nails which I used on building a new house which makes me very happy. I thank GD for this new house.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I am planning to start a banana business so to improve on my income to help me sustain my family needs. I have been seeking help from my children who have not been providing sufficiently since they also have families to take care of. This was my source of income before it collapsed due to many family financial demands.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I thank Give Directly I am now staying in a very decent house and this is the biggest difference in my life. I have been saving my monthly transfer from Give DIrectly and thus two months ago I withdrew all the money in my account and went to one of the mason in our village who gave me the quotation on what quantity to buy of materials for plastering. I went and bought enough plastering materials such as bags of cement sand that he used to plaster my house. Initially, the walls had big cracks and I was even afraid that it could one day fall on me. I am glad my house is in a very stable condition and looks strong and durable because of Gd transfers. There are no more cracks on the walls and it looks new.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I will have a source of income through the banana business I will start. I do not want to rely on my children for help as I did before the transfers. I used to beg for literally everything from my children which was really burdening them since they also have families to take care of. I will use the profits from the business to buy cement and sand which I will use in plastering inside wall of my house.
 
8th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
I have managed to renovate part of my house which was almost collapsing and I am now living without fear of my house caving in me
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My biggest goal is to plaster the rest of my house and that is why I will save some of my transfers to purchase the required materials.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
Ever since I started receiving these transfers, I don't have to totally depend on my son who is my sole provider as I can now afford to buy foodstuff and other personal requirements.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
When I am done renovating my house, I will be able to spend these transfers entirely on foodstuff which means that I will be living a much healthier lifestyle
 
Initial Payment
Transfer Amount
455 KES ($5 USD)
access_time 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
My new goal that I did not have before I started receiving this transfer is to reopen my fruit selling business.This will assure me of a stable income and improve my income so that I can be able to take care of my needs easily without having to depend on anyone.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life is currently different in that I no longer beg for food as much as I used to do before.When I get the money,I am able to buy most of the household requirements on my own. I am also able to renovate my house by hiring someone who can do so,even though at a slower pace than I would prefer.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months,I expect to have bought enough materials to renovate my house and improve my living conditions. I also expect to have reopened my business and be more independent,this will assure me of proper meals that will improve my health.
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 am now able to buy food and not go hungry.Before, I used to beg food from my neighbors,but this has now been greatly reduced. I can also hire people to help me renovate my house which is in a very bad state. I am old and cannot do this all by myself.
 
Enrolled
access_time 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardship I have faced is the loss of my husband at a tender age. I was still a young woman married with children and I had no job. Taking care of the children's food, clothing, shelter and schooling proved difficult for me. I had to struggle by doing manual jobs just to get some money so as to feed them.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is in the evening . This is the time I get to sit with my grandchildren and make stories. Laughing and getting to know how their day was makes me happy
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers on remodeling my house. My walls are made of mud and they have started falling off. The rest of my transfers I will use them to buy food to eat and a mattress to sleep on since currently I am sleeping on a mat. Due to my old age I need to sleep on something soft
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The achievement I am most proud of is being able to take care of my children by providing for them food, shelter and clothing. I was left a widow at a tender age and picking up the responsibilities of catering for the children plus loneliness weighed heavily on me.