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 > Mary's Profile
Mary's family
Mary
landscapeCountry:
kenya
workOccupation:
Small business
faceAge:
49
workCampaign
UBI
Upcoming Stage
Next Payment
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Follow to be updated on Mary's next check-in.
 
22nd Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 4 years ago
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Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to buy steel windows. I have a house I built two years ago and I have reserves spaces for windows on the wall which I have covered with polythene paper. This is not always a good picture and they also pose a security threat for my properties in the house. Therefore I would want to use my transfers to buy windows so that I can fix them on the walls.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
I have three children who are all in school. It is my duty as a parent to ensure I pay for their school fees in time. Unfortunately, due to the low income from a small chapati business, I have never fulfilled my part fully as required. In most cases, I have not always managed to pay for their arrears in time. They have always being sent home for arrears against my wish. This has happened because the little income I get from the business has been the only income I have which the whole family depends on. As a result of the many needs of the family, I have been forced to forgo some needs so as to have met others. In as much as school fees is very key for the children to be in school, sometimes I always fail to pay in time so that we can have food and medication just to mention a few. This is where GD transfers have been very helpful in my life. Every month when I get my transfers, I have always ensured I pay part of their arrears in school and this has really given me a good relationship with the teachers. They are rarely sent home for arrears and whenever I see them go to school in the morning, I just thank God for GD.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
My life will be a lot different in the next six months in that I will have managed to clear fees arrears for my children in school. This is where GD transfers have been very helpful for me and as long as I will still be getting my transfers, I will ensure I pay arrears for my children. I plan to use a major part of my monthly transfers to pay school fees for them on a monthly basis until I clear the arrears. Nothing will make me happy as a parent when my children are studying in school because I have paid for their fees. This will also ensure they have a good time to study and get good grades.
 
18th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time 5 years ago
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The recipient was not asked any questions as part of this follow up.
 
16th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($22 USD)
access_time over 5 years ago
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How is your life currently different from how it was four months ago?
Currently, I pay school fees for my children who can now get to stay in school and concentrate on their studies. Previously, I would take loans to pay the school fees which was strenuous as I would be followed up and down to pay even if I do not have the money at the moment. I also buy food for family consumption easily unlike when we could only eat one meal a day.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
I still want to concentrate on boosting my business more to help generate income for my family hence no new goal as at now.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my daily life right now is the constant flow of money in my household. I saved the transfers and bought more stock to boost my business hence increase in family income rate. My family can now afford to get food daily for consumption. Previously, we could hardly afford one meal a day. I earned so little from my business that could cater for so little in the household. I am Thankful to GiveDirectly for the transfers.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I have always wanted to venture into livestock farming to help generate income for the family. I wish to save more and buy livestock for rearing for the financial security of the family. I can sell the livestock to get money to pay school fees for my children, buy them food for consumption and nice clothes.
 
12th 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?
Since I have been receiving these transfers, I have been able to pay school fees for my children in time. This is a big step in my life. I used to really struggle to raise money to pay school fees for my children. They used to be sent home regularly because I was not able to keep up with all the family needs and pay school fees in time. I used to default paying school fees and anytime my children were sent home I would have to talk to the teachers to allow them in school as I was still looking for the money to pay. This was shameful for me but I did not have any other option. I am glad the story has changed and whenever I go to their school, I go to pay the money and not talk.
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
My new goal in the next four months is to plaster my house. The mud on the walls have been falling off during the rainy seasons which has really weakened the walls. I fear someday the house will fall on my family so to avoid this, I want to plaster the house so that it may be durable and strong.
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 am able to have three meals a day. I used to struggle to feed my family since I do not have a stable source of income. My source of income has been through casual work which is not always inconsistent and during the dry seasons, we would only have a meal a day. The income could be subjected to paying school fees for my children, medication and food. In most cases, it was not enough and hence we would have to miss some meals so as to cater for other family needs. Ever since I started receiving these transfers, I have been able to provide all the three meals a day for my family.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I plan to buy cement and sand which I will use to plaster my house so as to make it strong and durable. I would want to avoid the cost of building a new house since I have other urgent family needs to handle. I am also tired of smearing every month.
 
7th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time 6 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 the way it was four months ago in that I'm at peace knowing that every month I'm sure of getting money to pay my child's school fee. This has saved me a lot .
Do you have any new or additional goals for your life for the next four months?
In the next four months I have a goal of completing my house that my spouse started constructing unfortunately, he passed on before its completion.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life in the last four months preceding the current transfer.
The biggest difference in my day in the last four months preceding the current transfer is that I've been able to pay my child's school fee monthly and this has helped me reduce the arrears my child owes the school.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
In the next six months, I expect to have completed the house and buy new bedding because the current bedding isn't in good condition.
 
4th Payment
Transfer Amount
2280 KES ($23 USD)
access_time over 6 years ago
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Do you have any new goals that you didn't have before receiving the transfer?
Currently, I do not have any new goal.
How is your life different than it would have been if you never received the transfer?
My life has been made a little easier because we always have food, dress well and was able to pay school fees in time.
How do you expect your life to change in the next six months?
I would want to buy steel windows and goats as this has been my desire.
Describe the biggest difference in your daily life since you started receiving payments from GiveDirectly.
Every beginning of the month I am very happy because I know I will receive money from Give Directly and even if I am faced with any difficulty, I am not stressed up because I know it will be solved.
 
Enrolled
access_time over 6 years ago
 
What is the biggest hardship you've faced in your life?
The biggest hardest I have faced is unreliable source of income. This is because there are times when my chapati business is not doing well making my children go with only one meal a day.
What is the happiest part of your day?
The happiest part of my day is always in the evening after closing my business and am back to the house taking supper together with my children. At this point we share about our day's events as we laugh together.
What are you planning to spend your transfer on?
I am planning to spend my transfers on improving my house which has stalled due to lack of funds. Am also planning to spend the remaining part of the transfers on paying my two children's school fees.
What is the achievement you are proudest of?
The greatest achievement am proud of is having started a chapati business five years ago after my husband's death which has helped me educate my son up-to form four and also meet my family's other basic needs without depending on someone else.